The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner will be announced on Saturday night at the Appel Room at Lincoln Center in Columbus Circle in New York City.
The award winner will join 87 other winners (86 one-timers and one repeat) in college football lore as the recipient of the sport’s most prestigious individual honor.
This year, four finalists are heading to the ceremony: LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Interestingly, three of the four are transfers, with Harrison Jr. being the only one still playing for the school with which he began his collegiate career.
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU — Fifth-Year Senior
6 feet 4 inches, 210 pounds
2023 stats: Passing 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, 4 interceptions; Rushing 1,134 yards, 10 touchdowns
Daniels began his career as a heralded quarterback recruit at Arizona State, where he earned the starting job as a true freshman. He spent three years with the Sun Devils before transferring to LSU prior to last season and has had two of his best seasons on the Bayou.
This year, he was among the top passers in the country, tying for the national lead in touchdown passes and throwing for the third-most yards while leading all quarterbacks in rushing yards. There may be some hesitation to give him the award because his team faltered in the SEC title race, but he enters the week as the favorite to take home the honor.
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington — Fifth-Year Senior
6 feet 3 inches, 213 pounds
2023 stats: Passing 4,218 yards, 33 touchdowns, 9 interceptions
Penix is not nearly the running quarterback that the other two quarterback Heisman finalists are at this point in his career after multiple knee surgeries, but he can sling the rock. The 22-year-old has improved as a passer each season and has become an elite player under the tutelage of head coach Kalen DeBoer, who was his offensive coordinator during the early parts of his career at Indiana.
Every time you turned on a Washington game this year, you would see Penix Jr. throwing the ball deep down the field with ease and accuracy. His arm and decision-making were huge components of Washington’s unbeaten season, although some may discount his stats based on the plethora of future NFL talent with which the Huskies have surrounded him.
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon — Fifth-Year Senior
6 feet 2 inches, 217 pounds
2023 stats: Passing 4,145 yards, 40 touchdowns, 3 interceptions; Rushing 228 yards, 6 touchdowns
Nix was supposed to be the savior for Auburn as the son of a former Tiger quarterback and lifelong Auburn fan. He earned the starting job as a freshman and, ironically, led the Tigers to a win over Oregon in his first career start at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. After that, things soured, and Nix hit the transfer portal after three seasons.
Upon transferring to Oregon, Nix has enjoyed the two best seasons of his career, tying Daniels and Penix Jr. for the 2023 lead in touchdown passes and throwing for over 4,000 yards for the first time while limiting his interceptions. He also has some mobility, but his arm and playmaking ability were a significant reason Oregon made the PAC-12 title game and was in consideration for the College Football Playoff until the final week.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State — Junior
6 feet 4 inches, 205 pounds
2023 Stats: 67 receptions, 1,211 yards, 14 touchdowns
Harrison Jr. is the son of a Pro Football Hall of Famer and looks the part. He might be the best player in college football and makes outstanding plays with ease, week in and week out. That alone will be enough to get him to the top of NFL Draft boards come April, but what about his Heisman chances?
There’s no doubt Harrison is a deserving candidate, but he lacks the signature “Heisman moment” that so many past winners have given to the fans and voters. Yes, the Heisman is about the best college football player overall, but wide receivers rarely win it. With so many quarterbacks in consideration whose teams also achieved much this season, it isn’t easy to see a situation in which Harrison walks away with the award.
