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Heisman Trophy Candidate for Pac-12

A Clear Hierarchy in the Pac-12

USC star quarterback, Caleb Williams, headlined College Football news by being the first player from the Pac-12 to win the Heisman since 2014. There is a good chance the conference could have another winner in 2023, with Williams returning and two other players with legit NCAA football odds.

College Football odds favor that the next Heisman winner will come from the Pac-12 mainly because of the top-end quarterback talent in the conference. With how good the quarterbacks are in the conference, that doesn’t leave much room for other players to stand out, especially from other position groups.

Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans
Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans | Ronald martinez/getty images/afp

Having three legit candidates in one conference could also complicate some College Football lines. To win the Heisman, outside of the player having impressive stats, the team also has to succeed, and this could lead to one of the top candidates falling behind the others.

Honorable Mentions

Despite not being involved in the Heisman conversation in 2022, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. led the Pac-12 in passing yards, 104 more than Williams. He finished with 4,641 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Penix’s lack of eye-catching plays might keep him from being some of people’s College Football predictions to win the award in 2023.

Penix’s on-field play might not mesmerize bettors, but he led the Huskies to an 11-2 record last season. Suppose Washington can have another great season, possibly making the Pac-12 Championship Game, with Penix staying consistent. In that case, there is no reason for him not to be one of the final four finalists in New York.

On the other hand, Bo Nix is the flashy and exciting option for College Football picks. Last season was his first in Oregon after transferring from Auburn. After a slow start to the season, Nix eventually finished with 3,593 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also made an impact running the ball for 510 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The Ducks went on an eight-game winning streak in the middle of the season, sparking some Heisman conversations around Nix. He was leading the team making big plays with his arms and legs. However, the hype faded, with Oregon losing two of its final three games, missing out on the Pac-12 Championship game. Nix has the highlight reel of a legit Heisman contender and will likely get off to a quick start this season. Throw in another solid season for the Ducks, and Nix has a good chance of being one of the four finalists.

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Back-To-Back Heisman Wins For Williams

The first and only time someone won back-to-back Heisman Trophies was Archie Griffin in 1974 and 1975. There is a legit chance that Williams could complete the same feat. He won the award last season, throwing for 4,526 yards, 42 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Williams also used his legs well, running for 382 yards and 10 touchdowns.

— JWP Sports / CFBAlerts (@JWPSports) June 27, 2023

Williams is still clearly the best quarterback in the nation and seems to be a lock for the No.1 pick in the next NFL Draft. However, for him to win back-to-back Heismans, Williams will need to surpass what he did last season, which might be possible. The Trojans ended the season with an 11-3 record, losing in the Pac-12 Championship Game, missing out on the College Football Playoffs, and losing a bowl game. If Williams puts up similar numbers to 2022, and the team makes it to the College Football Playoffs, that might be a significant enough achievement for him to win the award in back-to-back years.

 

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