Where does Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. stand in the 2023 Heisman odds race? On the heels of a stellar 2022 campaign, Penix has been even better this season. Here’s a look at his current ranking and his case to win the prestigious award.
Can Michael Penix Jr. Win the Heisman?
Penix is the current front-runner for the Heisman Trophy on DraftKings, with odds of +210. His closest competitor is USC QB Caleb Williams, who sits in second place with odds of +230.
Beyond Penix and Williams, other names in the Heisman race include Bo Nix (+600), Dillon Gabriel (+1400), Jordan Travis (+1800), Drake Maye (+2000), J.J. McCarthy (+2200), and Brock Bowers (+3000).
The Heisman voting window will commence from Nov. 27 to Dec. 4, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 9 during the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
Penix Jr.’s Case for the 2023 Heisman Trophy
Penix wasn’t out of the running by any stretch in 2022. In last year’s breakout campaign at Washington, he completed 362 of 554 attempts (65.3%) for 4,641 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He finished eighth in the Heisman running.
This year, however, Penix has somehow reached new heights with his passing production. Equipped with a venerable passing attack that includes future NFL receivers Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Ja’Lynn Polk, Penix has been the best passer in college football.
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Through five games, Penix has completed 133 of 178 attempts (74.7%) for 1,999 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only two interceptions.
His efficiency is simply absurd, and while he doesn’t have the running production that other Heisman candidates have, it’s hard to argue against the sheer impact Penix has had on his squad.
Penix’s combination of explosiveness and efficiency as a distributor has helped Washington stay undefeated, getting off to a 5-0 start. Games against Oregon, USC, Utah, Oregon State, and Washington State will test his mettle, but at this point, he’s proven he’s up for the challenge.
The games to circle for Penix are Oregon in Week 7 and USC several weeks later. Both of those games will have him going head-to-head with another top Heisman contender. Nix is in the running, but Williams is essentially dueling Penix for the rights to the title right now.
If Penix can lead his team to a win in both of those games, keep the Huskies undefeated, and direct them to a conference title berth, it would be massive for his bid to keep the top spot on the Heisman odds rankings.
Penix’s 2024 NFL Draft Stock
There was a time when Penix was an oft-forgotten signal-caller at Indiana. He frequently missed time due to injuries, and in 2021, he threw for just four touchdowns and seven interceptions.
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Now, he’s the Heisman front-runner halfway through the 2023 campaign, and he’s a potential first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Penix’s rebirth as a college football star has been awe-inspiring, and it’s also played into his introduction as a true early-round QB prospect.
Injuries may be a concern for some teams, but canvassing across the QB group, few signal callers have the field vision, decisiveness, and accuracy that Penix has. And on top of that, he’s a gunslinger with a laser-launching left arm and the discretion to dissect opposing secondaries at will.
Past Maye and Williams, Penix is one of the top contenders to command Round 1 capital in the 2024 NFL Draft. Expect him to earn a shot as a franchise QB in the NFL.