Heisman Trophy Candidate for Big 12
The Big 12 is a Quarterback Heavy Conference
Quarterbacks always have an advantage in Heisman Trophy College Football odds, which might favor candidates from the Big 12. The conference is dominated by quarterback play, with at least two legit contenders for the award and some sleeper options that could challenge last year’s winner, Caleb Williams from USC.
The candidates for College Football picks to win the Heisman in 2023 out of the Big 12 are strictly quarterbacks. Last season, the conference had four running backs with at least 1,300 yards, but they are all in the NFL. While it is still hard for a non-quarterback to win the award, sportsbooks could have more positional versatility if some of those players were around this season.
A lack of running back candidates could help some of the quarterbacks in NCAA football odds, putting the ball in their hands even more. That could lead to bigger games and more memorable moments, all needed to win the Heisman.
Honorable Mentions
What might end up being the issue for some of these quarterbacks for College Football predictions is their team’s records. One quarterback that could have to deal with that is Tyler Shough from Texas Tech. The Red Raiders was 8-5 last season, partly due to Shough playing in seven games. When Shough did play, he looked good, throwing for 1,304 yards and seven touchdowns. If he stays on the field, his name might be added to the Heisman conversation.
Someone else that could have to deal with the overall team being an issue is Kansas’s Jalon Daniels. Before getting hurt, Daniels was considered a legit early option to win the Heisman last season, with the Jayhawks starting 5-0 with him leading the offense. After his injury, the team struggled, winning only once in the final eight games, with Daniels playing in the last four. He still threw for 2,014 yards, ran for 419, and contributed 25 touchdowns.
Will Howard from Kansas State might become a sleeper option for the Heisman. He started five games in 2022 but won all of them, throwing for 1,633 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Wildcats did win the 2022 Big 12 Championship, mainly because Howard took over the starting quarterback job. If he can replicate that success, leaving his name off a Heisman candidate list will be hard.
Finally, out of Oklahoma, Dillon Gabriel has a lot working for him to be a contender. He was second in passing yards and touchdowns last season in the Big 12, 3,168 and 25, with Max Duggan leading the way, a Heisman finalist. The issue is that the Sooners ended the regular season with a 6-6 record before losing a bowl game. There should be some improvements in 2023, leading to better stats and a chance at the Big 12 Championship.
Ewers Could Lead Texas
All signs seem to point to Quinn Ewers being the top candidate for the Heisman coming out of the Big 12. He headlined College Football news by keeping the starting job over highly anticipated freshmen Maalik Murphy and Arch Manning. On top of that, Texas, despite not living up to the hype recently, is projected to be the top team in the Big 12.
The QB with the most to prove this season is #Texas QB Quinn Ewers.
A heralded 5 star #1 QB in the nation has all the tools to be a top prospect but has yet to get comfortable and put it all together.
9 games in ‘22 threw 13 TDs at 56.2%
— Jared Tokarz (@JaredNFLDraft) June 14, 2023
In 2022, Ewers had solid stats, 2,177 yards, and 15 touchdowns in 10 games, missing three due to a shoulder injury. However, the issue with Ewers was consistency, especially after he returned from being hurt. If he can stay healthy, maybe Ewers is a little more consistent, and that paired up with the Longhorns possibly winning the Big 12, gives him a legit chance at the Heisman.
