Heisman Trophy finalists 2023: Meet the four candidates for college football's top award

David Suggs

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Heisman Trophy finalists 2023: Meet the four candidates for college football's top award image

Immortality awaits one of four players on Saturday.

The Heisman Memorial Trophy — handed to the most outstanding player in college football — will be awarded to this season's honoree Saturday in New York. It's the conclusion to a contest that has lasted months.

The names on the list of finalists represent some of the sport's most-skilled athletes, players who after starring in college could very well hear their names called early come April's NFL Draft.

MORE: When is the Heisman Trophy ceremony in 2023?

But first: Who will win that piece of artisanal hardware? It's anyone's guess. Here's a look at the top candidates to hoist one of the most iconic pieces in all of sports — the Heisman Trophy.

Heisman Trophy finalists 2023

Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Comp-Att (Pct) Yds TDs INTs Rushes Yards YPC TDs
236-327 (72.2) 3,812 40 4 135 1,134 8.4 10

Jayden Daniels is a modern quarterback in every sense of the word.

The LSU star took up the mantle as college football's next great dual-threat QB, joining Vince Young (2005), Johnny Manziel (2012), Deshaun Watson (2015), Lamar Jackson (2016, 2017), Kyler Murray (2018) and Jalen Hurts (2019) as QBs to throw for 3,000 passing yards and rush for 1,000 rushing yards in a single campaign. Of those magnificent seven seasons, three ended with Heisman acceptance speeches. Daniels has a chance to be No. 4.

It was a strange season for the Tigers, who finished two games back of division-leading Alabama in the SEC West. LSU's schedule was blemished not once nor twice, but three times, all of which occurred against ranked opposition.

Still, Daniels was effervescent with the ball in his hands, mystifying opposing defenses with both his cannon arm and his jangling legs.

History rarely lies. Daniels' numbers compare quite favorably to some of the greatest two-way QBs in recent college football history. That gives him as good a shot as anyone to capture the Heisman Trophy.

Heisman Moment

As mentioned, the Tigers had a strange year, failing to capture one of those season-defining wins that thrust a team — and its superstar leader — into the national consciousness.

However, if there was one game where Daniels truly put on a show, it was against Florida. Daniels accounted for more 606 yards of total offense against the Gators' weary defense, all the while tallying five touchdowns — three in the air, two on the ground.

It was unparalleled dominance; Daniels became the first player in FBS history to tally at least 350 passing yards and 200-plus rushing yards in the same game. He also set the SEC's single-game record for total yards recorded in a matchup.

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

Comp-Att (Pct) Yds TDs INTs
307-466 (65.9) 4,218 33 9

Another transfer made waves under center for one of the nation's most talked-about sides this season: Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.

Penix sparkled in the pocket, employing a slick southpaw stance to fool defenses all the country over. The fifth-year senior formed a menacing combination with star wideout Rome Odunze and caught fans and scouts' attention with feverish arm strength on zipped passes into coverage.

Most importantly, Penix has that aura. He led the Huskies to an undefeated regular season, a Pac-12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff, the first time the program has reached such a stage since 2016. His Heisman candidacy is about as golden as the helmets he tends to sport.

Heisman Moment

Penix had a number of scintillating showcases. But few carry the weight of his displays against Oregon, both of which should swirl in voters' heads for some time.

Penix was nearly faultless in Washington's first matchup with the Ducks. He threw 302 yards and four touchdowns, the last of which came when he fired an inch-perfect back-shoulder arrow to Odunze with 1:42 left in regulation.

His stat line wasn't nearly as gaudy when the Huskies faced Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship. But when they needed him, he delivered, hitting Quentin Moore in the end zone with 2:44 left to give Washington all the breathing room it needed to get into the College Football Playoff.

Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

Comp-Att (Pct) Yds TDs INTs Rushes Yards YPC TDs
336-435 (77.2) 4,145 40 3 53 228 4.3

6

Bo Knows.

The final season of the Pac-12 as we know it was dominated by veteran quarterbacks. Penix showed out in Huskies purple, while USC's Caleb Williams flashed the tools that has made him the prospective No. 1 pick in next year's draft.

Then, there was Bo Nix. The fifth-year senior has long been touted as one of the nation's best QBs. In 2023, he confirmed it. Nix, in his second year at Oregon after spending each of his first three at Auburn, exploded for 4,145 passing yards and 40 touchdowns to just three interceptions, all the while establishing himself as the most efficient thrower in all of college football.

Nix had Dan Lanning's squad rolling. And if not for a pair of defeats to Penix's Washington, it very well could have been the Ducks representing the conference of champions in the College Football Playoff.

Heisman Moment

Nix was steady throughout the campaign, routinely looking off spectators with a glimpse before firing passes right into his wideout's wickets.

His best showing may have been in the highest-profile matchup of his career: a date with the Trojans and Caleb Williams.

Nix outshined Williams, tossing four passing touchdowns to the reigning Heisman winner's one. The result? A decisive victory over the Trojans, one that kept the Ducks atop the Pac-12 for the time being.

MORE: Kyle McCord, Riley Leonard among QBs seeking greener pastures in 2023 transfer portal

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Catches Yds TDs YPC
67 1,211 14 18.1

Good receivers are worth their weight in gold. Marvin Harrison Jr., though? He'll be worth millions soon enough.

Ohio State has a penchant for producing All-Pro-caliber pass-catchers. And although Harrison has far to go before earning such billing, he's certainly one of the best wideouts to come out of the college game in recent memory.

Harrison earned All-Big Ten honors after recreating his standout sophomore campaign in 2023. The prodigal son netted 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns, finding success even as starter Kyle McCord struggled in big games.

Harrison is the best wide receiver in the country. Now, he'll get a chance to earn his flowers in Lincoln Center.

Heisman Moment

"Maserati" Marv saved his best for last, plucking five McCord passes for 118 yards and touchdown against Michigan at the Big House.

He was a constant thorn in the side of the Wolverines' Grade-A defense, escaping surveillance to find space in Michigan's secondary time and time again.

Perhaps no stat summed up Harrison's presence in the game more than the fact that not one but two of McCord's interceptions came while targeting Harrison. He was the focal point in the Buckeyes' attack. Win or lose, the Wolverines were fearful of his looming shadow.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.