The finalists for this year’s Heisman Trophy award were announced on Monday night. And fans certainly had plenty to say about those named, or not named, as finalists for the award.
The Heisman Trophy of course goes to the most outstanding player in all of college football each season. The defending Heisman winner is USC Trojans star Caleb Williams, who won the award in 2022.
Williams will not be repeating as the Heisman winner this season. His name was left off of the finalists list revealed on Monday.
Instead, the four players announced as finalists for the award were LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels, Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr, and Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
The results were announced by current ESPN College Football analyst and former Heisman winner Robert Griffin III live on Monday Night Countdown.
ESPN's Robert Griffin III revealing the Heisman Trophy finalists on Monday Night Countdown.
The finalists consist of:
– LSU's Jayden Daniels
– Oregon's Bo Nix
– Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr.
– Washington's Michael Penix Jr. pic.twitter.com/zTp34T8nMe— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 4, 2023
The majority of fans saw these four as the correct four finalists for the award considering all had pretty solid team success along with outstanding individual stats to boot.
No surprises here, 4 phenomenal players are this year’s Heisman finalists! https://t.co/nJnKbwvQ0J
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 5, 2023
I'm telling you, there's something fishy about these Heisman finalists. They're all too perfect, too talented
— Nate (@natemisono) December 5, 2023
This is the least invested I’ve been in the Heisman recently, but off the top of my head these four feel correct https://t.co/e2PUcytm7R
— M Bechtoldt (@CavsMax13) December 5, 2023
Glad to see Harrison made the cut. Even if he’s unlikely to best a QB for the award, but was probably the most talented player in college football this year. Honestly, I thought the #Buckeyes underutilized him at times. https://t.co/yCxdIhG75k
— Adam Copeland (@exiledclevelndr) December 5, 2023
That being said, some fans brought up some other names as potential players who they believe should have been finalists.
Four finalists for this year's Heisman. Cody Schrader not on this list, will be interested to see if he makes the top ten, which will be recognized on December 8 https://t.co/qQZ0GWlQf3
— Power Mizzou (@PowerMizzoucom) December 5, 2023
Jordan Travis not a finalist, despite single-handedly winning 10 games for FSU, as described by the CFP committee. https://t.co/WRYjEr5NjB
— Dan Lucas (@WFLADan) December 5, 2023
Jalen Milroe very clearly deserves to be on this list. Just another example of how ESPN hates Alabama https://t.co/tNC3WkQB4y
— Nick Perkins (@NickyPerkss) December 5, 2023
It is an intriguing list of candidates for sure, largely because they all have pretty similar cases to be the Heisman winner. That is everyone except for Michael Penix Jr.
Penix Jr. is the only one of these four players who is on a team that is in the College Football Playoff, something that could give him a leg up against his fellow Heisman finalists.
Despite this, it is Jayden Daniels who is the overwhelming favorite to win the award, sitting as a -1400 favorite to win the award on Bet MGM.
Odds to win the Heisman:
-1400 Jayden Daniels
+900 Michael Penix Jr.
+2200 Bo Nix
+20000 Marvin Harrison Jr. pic.twitter.com/C9tUgxTC9P— John Ewing (@johnewing) December 5, 2023
