A few Heisman Trophy favorites may not have played in Week 6, but that doesn't mean that there wasn't major movement in the latest rankings.
Week 6 of the college football season proved why college football is a beautiful sport. There was chaos in every facet, with teams like the USC Trojans put on upset alert against an unlikely underdog on the Arizona Wildcats.
What does college football chaos mean for the Heisman race? Let's take a look with the latest Heisman Trophy rankings.
Michael Penix Jr. (Washington)
It's incredibly rare for a quarterback not to play, and yet somehow move up in the Heisman rankings, yet that's exactly what happened to Penix following a sub-par performance on the field by Caleb Williams and the USC Trojans. While Penix's stats obviously have not changed, still second in the nation with 1,999 yards and tied for third with 16 touchdown passes, Caleb Williams failed to take advantage of his competitor's off week and distance himself from the competition.
The Heisman committee often will point to a big performance in a key win as a winner's "Heisman moment" and Michael Penix will have his chance at that, hosting the Oregon Ducks Saturday in a game that will change the college football landscape and the Heisman race.
Caleb Williams (USC)
The Trojans had a rough day on the field, with the Arizona Wildcats taking them to triple overtime before Williams called the game with a two-point conversion run. Williams also leads the country in passing touchdowns with 22 and is eighth in the country in passing yards with 1,822. The USC quarterback also has 124 yards and six touchdowns rushing this season.
The Trojans will be put to the test on Saturday, as they travel to Notre Dame to take on the Fighting Irish after the Irish lost to Louisville. Notre Dame has a good defense, so Williams and the Trojans will need to be on their A-game if they hope to remain undefeated.
Bo Nix (Oregon)
Once again, a quarterback moves higher on the list despite not playing. Quinn Ewers, the quarterback who previously occupied this third slot, threw two picks in a Longhorns loss last Saturday, elevating the competition that was behind him. Nix is the fifth most efficient passer in college football, with an 184.70 rating, and has 1,459 passing yards and 15 passing touchdowns. Bo Nix is also effective in running the ball, with 87 yards and a touchdown.
Nix has the same opportunity as Penix on Saturday to perform at a high level against a top-10 team in the country. Nix will have a bigger challenge, being the away team at Washington.
Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma)
How does a player rocket themselves into the Heisman conversation? By putting his team on his back and leading them to a win over a top-five team. Gabriel threw for 285 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown in the Sooners' win over Texas in the Red River Rivalry. Gabriel has 1,878 passing yards, 208 rushing yards, and 21 total touchdowns on the season.
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Oklahoma is now in the driver's seat for the Big 12 championship game as one of two teams undefeated in conference play. The Sooner will play the other team, West Virginia, in November. The Sooners will face another conference opponent on Saturday in UCF.
Jordan Travis (Florida State)
Jordan Travis and the Florida State Seminoles had the week off, but thanks to Sam Hartman and Notre Dame getting blown out in primetime against Louisville, Travis jumps back into the top five in the Heisman race. Travis is leading Florida State to their best season since 2014 when they lost to the Oregon Ducks in the inaugural College Football Playoff. Travis has 1,198 passing yards, 119 rush yards, and 14 total touchdowns on the season.
With potentially his toughest competition behind him, Travis should be able to put up big numbers to help his chances at being in New York for the Heisman Trophy, and it will all start Saturday against the Syracuse Orange.
