College Football Heisman Trophy Watchlist After Week 2

September 12, 2023

Justin's NCAA college football top Heisman Trophy contenders after Week 2 of the 2023 season. Top candidates include Caleb Williams and Michael Penix Jr.

No trophy in college sports means as much as the Heisman Trophy, which recognizes the best player in college football. That's why each week I'll be taking stock of the top five contenders for the trophy.

This week there's not a ton of change among the top five. The only change is that I've dropped Shedeur Sanders out and brought a different quarterback in. Sanders is still a good Heisman candidate, but he's eighth in the betting odds and another QB made a bigger impact this weekend.

Below are the top five Heisman contenders after Week 2 of the college football season. These are the five players who I view as having the best shot to win the trophy based on their performances this season.

5. Quinn Ewers - QB, Texas

I have to put Quinn Ewers here after he led the Longhorns to an upset victory over Alabama. He threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns in the 34-24 victory over the Crimson Tide. The Horns are now 2-0. On the season, Ewers has completed 63.2% of his passes for 609 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He's also run for 23 yards and a touchdown.

4. J.J. McCarthy - QB, Michigan

Michigan's started with an easy schedule, so being 2-0 after games against East Carolina and UNLV isn't surprising. Neither is the fact that McCarthy has been very good in both games. Even against subpar competition, his numbers stand out. McCarthy has completed 87.3% of his pass attempts through two games, throwing for 558 yards and five touchdowns. Can he keep this up when the competition gets tougher?

3. Jordan Travis - QB, Florida State

After a big game against LSU in Week 1, Jordan Travis took a little more of a backseat this week. In the win over Southern Miss, he was 15-for-29 for 175 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn't enough for me to move him down this list because the LSU win probably means more to voters than what McCarthy has done so far. Still, he'll need to pick up the pace to remain a Heisman contender.

2. Michael Penix Jr. - QB, Washington

If anyone gives Caleb Williams a run for his money, it's going to be Michael Penix Jr. Penix threw for over 400 yards for the second week in a row in Saturday's win over Tulsa. In two games, he has completed 73.1% of his passes for 859 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception.

1. Caleb Williams - QB, USC

Last year's Heisman winner remains the favorite. Through three games, Williams has completed 78.6% of his passes for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns while also adding one rushing score, a 21-yard scamper last game. He was 19-for-21 for 281 yards and three touchdowns in the team's win over Stanford.

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