After another hectic week of college football, the latest Heisman Trophy rankings are giving us a clearer picture of who will win the award.
College football madness has begun, with the Oklahoma Sooners losing to Kansas, Washington struggling against Stanford, and other top teams losing. How have college football outcomes affected the race for the Heisman Trophy?
1. Michael Penix Jr. (Washington)
Washington struggled on the road against Stanford, but the performance of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had nothing to do with it, as Penix threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns in the close win. Penix leads the country in passing yards with 2,945 yards and is third in the country in touchdown passes with 24.
The Huskies have struggled against their past few opponents, and they'll have to be on their A-game Saturday when they travel to Los Angeles to take on the reigning Heisman winner, Caleb Williams, and the USC Trojans.
2. J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)
Despite the recent scandals surrounding the Michigan Wolverines, J.J. McCarthy and company have not struggled with their opponents this season. McCarthy has thrown for 1,799 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, leading the third-ranked Wolverines to an undefeated season thus far.
Michigan was on a bye in Week 9 but returns to action Saturday when it hosts the Purdue Boilermakers. Michigan is entering the tough portion of its schedule soon, with games against both Penn State and Ohio State in November.
3. Jayden Daniels (LSU)
Jayden Daniels and the LSU Tigers face one of their toughest tests of the season Saturday: traveling to Tuscaloosa for a matchup with the Alabama Crimson Tide. The winner of that game should take the reins in the race for the SEC West. The Tide's defense will have a challenge, with Daniels leading the Tigers to being one of the top teams in the country.
Daniels is fourth in the country in passing yards with 2,573 and is tied with Caleb Williams for the nation's lead in passing touchdowns with 25. Daniels also is the second-leading rusher for LSU with 521 yards and five rushing touchdowns. If LSU upsets the Tide on Saturday, Daniels should be propelled to the top of the Heisman race.
4. Bo Nix (Oregon)
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Bo Nix and the Oregon Ducks secured their statement win on the season: a 35-6 victory on the road against the Utah Utes. Nix and the Ducks are the top-ranked one-loss team in the country at No. 6, and they have the opportunity to win out with games against California, USC, Arizona State and rival Oregon State.
If they run the table and win, they'll line up against Washington for a rematch in the Pac-12 Championship Game, when Oregon will have the chance to avenge its Week 7 loss.
5. Jordan Travis (Florida State)
Jordan Travis and the Florida State Seminoles debuted in the College Football Playoff at No. 4, giving the Seminoles a clear path for getting to the final four: Win out and win the Atlantic Coast Conference. Travis has led the Seminoles to an 8-0 record at this point in the season, and he should remain in the thick of the Heisman race. Travis has 2,109 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns on the season. Travis also has 205 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
Florida State has four games left in the regular season, with two coming against their in-state rivals: the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Gators. Anything can happen in rivalry games, but the Seminoles should be able to maintain the course and finish undefeated.
