2023 Heisman Trophy Odds: Michael Penix Jr. Overtakes Caleb Williams as Favorite
Sep 26, 2023
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 23: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Washington Huskies celebrates his team's win against the California Golden Bears at Husky Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
For the first time this season, USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams is no longer the leading candidate to win the Heisman Trophy in the eyes of oddsmakers.
Washington Huskies signal-caller Michael Penix Jr. has overtaken the top spot, as DraftKings Sportsbook lists him as a +360 favorite to take home the coveted award. Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, now has odds of +400.
The top four is rounded out by Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (+600) and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix (+1,000).
Penix has helped lead the No. 7 Huskies to a 4-0 start, most recently posting a season-high 59 points in Saturday's win over Cal. The senior threw for 304 yards, four touchdowns and an interception on 19-of-25 passing in the victory, upping his season totals to 1,636 passing yards, 16 scores and just two picks.
If Penix manages to win the Heisman Trophy this season, he will become the first player in program history to achieve the feat.
For now, he will look to lead the Huskies to a fifth straight win when they face Arizona this week.
USC's Lincoln Riley Ends Reporter's 2-Week Suspension for Policy Violation
Sep 21, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 9: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans looks on during the game against the Stanford Cardinal at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 9, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
USC and coach Lincoln Riley decided to lift the two-week suspension it placed on a reporter from the Southern California News Group, according to a couple of statements put out on social media Thursday.
Luca Evens, a rookie reporter on the Trojans' beat for the Orange County Register, was issued a two-week suspension of his credential Tuesday for allegedly violating the school's media guidelines.
Just 48 hours later, Evans took to X—formerly known as Twitter—to say that he and Riley cleared the air between them following a long conversation and that his access was restored.
"Riley made it clear his intent to protect his players," Evans wrote as part of the statement. "I made it clear my intent has always been to tell compelling, honest stories on USC."
Evans' suspension was connected to an article he published last week about freshman running back Quinten Joyner. In the piece, Evans described a conversation between Joyner and fellow freshman Braylan Shelby in which they discussed being nervous about talking to the media.
Joyner's father was even contacted for the piece and he went on to say that the anecdote was "spot on."
USC claimed Evans violated its policy of reporting anything outside of media availability in the practice facility.
Unsurprisingly, Riley didn't expound much on the situation but said "we felt it was far enough that we needed to act on it." He also added that the piece wasn't "accurate."
The program took some backlash from local media for the actions it took against Evans. Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke called out Riley and athletic director Jennifer Cohen in a recent article for the decision to suspend the young, ambitious reporter.
USC also received letters from Orange County Register senior editor Todd Harmonson, sports editor Tom Moore and SCNG publisher Ron Hasse asking the university to change their decision.
Riley had a statement of his own Thursday regarding Evans' suspension being lifted.
"Last night, I received a call from Luca Evans, and we had very candid and productive conversation. We agreed that we both could have handled the situation differently," Riley wrote in statement shared by Los Angeles Times reporter Ryan Kartje. "I appreciate Luca recognizing the policies we have in place to protect our student-athletes and acknowledging to adhere to those in the future. We welcome Luca back to practice and look forward to his continuing coverage of the Trojans"
Lincoln Riley Discusses USC Suspending Reporter's CFB Access for Policy Violation
Sep 20, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 9: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans looks on during the game against the Stanford Cardinal at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 9, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
The USC football program suspended a reporter's access to the team for two weeks for what it saw as a policy violation, and head coach Lincoln Riley talked to reporters about the decision Tuesday.
"The media here has been great partners in my two years here, have enjoyed working with the media thoroughly," he said. "I don't feel like we have too many rules, too many policies. But the ones that we do have, we take them serious, because my first job is not, even though it is part of my job, it's not to the media, it's not to the fans, it's not to anybody else. It's to protecting our players. That is first and foremost, that will always be priority No. 1."
The reporter in question is Orange County Register and Southern California News Group beat writer Luca Evans.
The Orange County Registerexplained that USC director of football communications Katie Ryan said Riley was upset with a story published Thursday that included reference to a conversation between teammates and freshmen Quinten Joyner and Braylan Shelby.
While the conversation did not seem to reveal any insider information and was instead about Shelby offering advice to Joyner for talking to the media, USC argued that it violated its policy preventing reporters from writing about things outside of scheduled media availability times in the practice facility.
Ryan also previously raised concerns about Evans for talking to players and coaches in areas that were not designated as media availability areas and asking a question after a press conference ended.
The Southern California News Group sent a letter to Riley, athletic director Jennifer Cohen and USC president Carol Folt expressing its disagreement with the decision and asking for the suspension to be lifted.
USC declined to end the suspension.
Ryan Young of Yahoo Sports noted this isn't a first for Riley, who canceled media availability in 2021 when he was the head coach at Oklahoma. He was upset that student journalists reported what they saw regarding the quarterback position when they watched practice from a building across the street.
As for Evans, the Orange County Register said he will continue to write about the team even though his access was suspended through Sept. 28.
USC's Caleb Williams Eyes Topping Tom Brady's Super Bowl Wins: 'Set the Bar High'
Sep 6, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 02: USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) celebrates a touchdown during a game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the USC Trojans on September 2, 2023, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Nobody can accuse Caleb Williams of setting the bar too low.
"Tom Brady has seven," the USC quarterback said when asked during an interview with Sam Schube of GQ why he set a goal of eight Super Bowl titles. "So you got to set the bar high."
Williams also listed being the first pick of the NFL draft as a goal, which seems more reasonable at this stage. After all, he has been widely projected as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft.
The USC quarterback is already trying to make history this season by joining Ohio State's Archie Griffin as the only player to win two Heisman Trophies. He is off to an ideal start and threw four touchdowns in the season-opening win over San Jose State.
But surpassing Brady's seven Super Bowl titles would be an accomplishment on another level.
Those seven Lombardi Trophies are more than any single franchise has won. Brady is the greatest player in league history and the gold standard to which all current and future quarterbacks will be compared, including Williams.
If he can somehow live up to that standard, he will also go down as one of the best ever.
Reggie Bush: Caleb Williams More 'Explosive Athlete' Than Patrick Mahomes amid Comps
Sep 6, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 02: USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) celebrates a touchdown during a game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the USC Trojans on September 2, 2023, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The hype for USC quarterback, reigning Heisman Trophy candidate and No. 1 overall NFL draft pick favorite Caleb Williams is off the charts right now, and that's only continued after his tremendous start to the season.
He's frequently been mentioned in the same breath as Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes, and that continued Tuesday with ex-USC star and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush's comments to Sam Schube of GQ Sports, who profiled the Southern Cal signal-caller.
"The thing that I think is different between Caleb and Patrick is, Caleb is an explosive athlete," Bush said.
"He's an explosive runner with the football. Mahomes is not an explosive runner with the football. Mahomes is creative, he's crafty, he'll buy some time, he'll get you a first down—but Caleb can take it to the house."
Williams hasn't lit it up this year from a rushing perspective thus far, but his fantastic ability to make plays in the face of oncoming pressure has taken center stage, perhaps no more than when he threw this touchdown pass against Nevada.
Williams has been sensational through two wins, completing 36-of-49 passes for 597 yards, nine touchdowns and zero interceptions.
He's somehow looking even better than last year, when he finished the season with 52 total touchdowns (42 passing, 10 rushing), 4,537 passing yards and a 66.6 percent completion rate.
Williams will look to continue USC's hot early start going when the Trojans play Stanford on Saturday.
College football's Week 1 wrapped for the most part on Saturday. After seeing teams across the country play in their first games of the season, it's typical…
Caleb Williams Astounds Twitter With Brilliance as USC Crushes Nevada
Sep 3, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 02: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans runs the ball during the second quarter against the Nevada Wolf Pack at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 02, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Have a day Caleb Williams.
The reigning Heisman Winner built off of a dominant performance in Week 0 by taking it to a different level in Week 1.
Williams went 18-24 for 318 yards and five touchdowns in a 66-14 dismantling of Nevada to help the Trojans move to 2-0 on the young season.
Williams was a human highlight reel in the contest, something defined by a touchdown in the second quarter where he showed off his agility, field vision and arm strength.
The signal-caller had 258 yards and four touchdowns in the first half alone and was relieved in the third quarter.
The performance has fans believing USC could be a College Football Playoff contender and that Williams is making a strong case for becoming only the second player to ever win multiple Heisman's. There also was some mention of where he could potentially be playing on Sunday's very soon.
Caleb Willams going for 800 yards against Nevada today😂😂😂
Williams has toyed with the non-Power Five schedule that USC has faced so far but those matchups are officially done for the season. The heart of the Pac-12 schedule now awaits the Trojans, with a game against No. 13 Notre Dame sitting right in the middle as well.
The journey continues next week when the Trojans host Stanford in their conference opener.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. Predicts USC's Caleb Williams to Win 2nd Heisman Award
Sep 1, 2023
College Football: USC quarterback Caleb Williams (13) in action, sits on the bench vs. San Jose State at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
Los Angeles, CA 8/26/2023
CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Set Number: X164403 TK1)
ESPN Analyst Mel Kiper Jr. is not overthinking his Heisman prediction.
Kiper picked USC quarterback Caleb Williams to take home his second consecutive Heisman Trophy, stating that he should have a good chance to replicate his numbers from the 2022 season.
"I guess I'll be the boring one and pick the guy who just won it," Kiper wrote. "But how can you not? He's going to put up incredible numbers in Lincoln Riley's offense ... again."
Williams numbers in 2022 were sensational. He threw for 4,537 yards and had 42 touchdowns to just five interceptions. He also had 382 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. He helped lead the Trojans to an 11-3 record and they are considered to be among the top teams in the Pac-12 for 2023 with him at the helm.
His 2023 has gotten off to a hot start as he threw for 278 yards and four touchdowns in the Trojan's Week 0 victory over San Jose State.
While he looks like the favorite, winning a second Heisman is easier said than done. The feat has only been accomplished once, as Ohio State running back Archie Griffin won the award in 1974 and 1975.
Williams will look to build towards Kiper's prediction Saturday when the Trojans host Nevada.
Matt Leinart Talks USC, Caleb Williams, Conference Realignment, More in B/R Interview
Aug 28, 2023
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 02: Fox Big Noon Kickoff on air analyst Matt Leinart during the Pac-12 Championship football game between Utah Utes and USC Trojans on December 2, 2022 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It's College Football Playoff or bust for the USC Trojans this season.
At least in the eyes of one of the program's all-time greats.
"From a Trojan perspective and also as a college football analyst, anything short of a Playoff spot for USC would probably be a disappointment," former USC quarterback and current Fox analyst Matt Leinart told Bleacher Report. "Just because of how close they were last year and the additions and transfers they added, especially on the defensive side. I think it's a Playoff run, that's the type of team they have."
The Trojans are always under the spotlight, but they will be even more so in 2023.
After all, this is the program's final season in the Pac-12 before a move to the Big Ten, where it will play against the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin and others. It is also looking to take the next step after quarterback Caleb Williams' hamstring injury in the Pac-12 title game against Utah last season arguably cost USC a conference crown and CFP spot.
Throw in Williams attempting to join Ohio State's Archie Griffin as the only players in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy twice, and there is no shortage of storylines.
"It's only happened once, but I think if there's anyone who can do it, it's him," Leinart said of Williams' chances at another Heisman.
"I say that because of, one, the system and [head coach] Lincoln [Riley] and everything we know he can do with quarterbacks. Clearly, the resume speaks for itself. But I also think USC is going to be a lot better this year than they were last year, and I like to say they were a pulled hamstring away from probably getting to the Playoff. He's going to have a phenomenal year, and I think the Heisman is there. I know he wants to win another one, and he will go out there and say it."
Williams looked the part of a Heisman contender in Saturday's season-opening 56-28 win over San Jose State with four touchdown passes. The defense left something to be desired and could be a problem in later matchups with Notre Dame, Utah, Washington and Oregon, but the Trojans will be in every game as long as No. 13 is on the field.
It was the first step for a USC team that is attempting to reach the heights the program did when Leinart was under center.
While he was the No. 10 overall pick of the 2006 NFL draft and played for the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders, he is best known for his collegiate career that included the 2004 Heisman Trophy, two Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year awards, a BCS national championship and a spot atop the final Associated Press Poll in another season.
Leinart threw for more than 3,000 yards in three different seasons with the Trojans in an era when the game wasn't quite as pass-oriented or up-tempo. It likely isn't difficult for fans to envision him throwing for over 4,500 yards in Riley's system given the quarterback success the head coach has established with the likes of Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts and Williams.
But it apparently is difficult for the man himself to envision it.
"I don't know if I would fit in Lincoln Riley's system," Leinart said while laughing. "I think I would probably be terrible in that system. But it is amazing what he does. He's had a lot of different types of players. You go back to Oklahoma, and he had that run of Baker and Jalen and Kyler, all three very different types of players. All of them can move pretty well, but Kyler's one of one, he's a really unique athlete. Jalen was a very unique player, Baker was different than both of those guys. Caleb is kind of a mix of all of them.
"I think if I played for him, I'm sure he would work to my strengths. But you have to be able to move around in that system, and that was something that I did not do well."
Leinart may not be able to move as well in the pocket or as a runner as Williams does, but he can hold his own while acting beside him.
The pair of USC quarterbacks teamed up to promote Wendy's new fall items, including the loaded nacho cheeseburger and queso fries. The commercial is built around the fanfare Williams receives for transferring to Wendy's, while Leinart is not recognized in an amusing scene even though he is a national champion and Heisman Trophy winner.
"Wendy's has been great," Leinart said. "I've had a long relationship with them through Fox and our show. To be a part of this campaign with Wendy's—and I love Wendy's in general and the people behind Wendy's—it's been awesome. They're the hamburger of college football. It was a lot of fun to work with Caleb. I saw him a lot this summer, and I know he's excited for the season."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj5NCkHiV30
While Williams transferring to Wendy's was obviously a joke in the commercial, player and team movement was at the center of the college football world this offseason with the transfer portal and conference realignment.
It was already known that USC and UCLA are headed to the Big Ten and Texas and Oklahoma are headed to the SEC after the 2023 campaign, but now Oregon and Washington will join the Trojans and Bruins in their move. And Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are going to the Big 12.
All the shuffling around marks the end of the Pac-12 as fans know it and has left Oregon State, Washington State, Stanford and Cal looking for permanent homes.
"There is a purist and traditionalist in me, and it's sad," Leinart said. "It's sad for those traditionalists who grew up in the Pac-10 and were a part of the Pac-10 or even the Pac-12 now. And as far as the other schools and other sports that are going to be affected by realignment. That's a real thing."
Leinart has a unique perspective because he played in the old Pac-10 for a program that is on the move to the Big Ten. But he is also a national college football analyst for Fox and approaches the topic of conference realignment from a big-picture perspective as well.
"I will say that college football is changing," he said. "It's evolving and kids are getting paid now. Traditions are going to end, and new traditions are going to form. Rivalries are going to end, and new rivalries are going to form. It's just the way it's moving, so I have the mindset of, 'if you dwell on the past and you dwell on all of this, you're going to get left behind.'... You have to swim or get left behind, and that's my view as an analyst. You have to move forward.
"I think college football is in a great spot. People get nervous with change, and rightfully so. But I think once the season starts, people are going to be excited that college football is back. And a couple years from now, it's going to become the new norm and we will kind of forget about all this other stuff that's happening."
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 18: USC Trojans wide receiver Drake London (15) is tackled by several Oregon defenders during the Pac-12 Championship college football game between the Oregon Ducks and the USC Trojans on December 18, 2020, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. The game was played without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
That excitement that comes with the start of a new college football season also means conversations naturally turn to CFP predictions.
Leinart believes there will be four national powerhouses left standing when the Playoff does roll around in Georgia, USC, Michigan and LSU.
"I'm high on LSU this year," he said. "LSU beats Georgia, but Georgia gets in. That would be right now, I might change that during my show on Big Noon."
As for a team that could challenge that group and sneak into the field?
"Penn State," he said. "James Franklin has done a really good job there. They just haven't been able to get over that hump of Michigan and Ohio State. Something about this year with them. Michigan is absolutely stacked, but they have to go to Penn State. Ohio State is stacked, but there's some question marks there.
"I think for the first time in a long time, Penn State has a quarterback in Drew Allar who people are super excited about what he can bring to the offense. And then those running backs. Even though they're top 10 and not completely out of the radar like TCU last year with their run, don't be surprised if Penn State makes a run at this thing. They can make a run at the Big Ten, upset one or two of those teams and end up in the Playoff."
Perhaps Leinart's Trojans will be waiting for the Nittany Lions if they do reach the Playoff.
USC's Caleb Williams Excites Fans to Begin Heisman Campaign with 4 TD vs. SJSU
Aug 27, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 26: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans avoids the tackle against Elijah Wood #14 of the San Jose State Spartans during the second quarter at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Caleb Williams' season debut did not disappoint.
The reigning Heisman winner dazzled with 278 passing yards and four touchdowns in USC's 56-28 blowout of San Jose State on Saturday.
Caleb Williams posted his 5th career game at USC with 4 pass TD & 0 Int.
That is the 4th-most by any player at USC over the last 25 seasons. Only Matt Leinart (9), Matt Barkley & Cody Kessler (6 each) have more during that span. pic.twitter.com/xYzkynDdbX
Williams, the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, is coming off a Heisman-winning sophomore campaign that saw him throw for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns against five interceptions.
While San Jose State isn't exactly a power-conference team, Williams showed he's willing and able to live up to the hype in the season opener.
Twelve different Trojans players caught at least one pass, with Tahj Washington leading the way with two receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. Zachariah Branch also hauled in four passes for 58 yards and a score.
USC was tasked with replacing Jordan Addison at the top of the wide receiver depth chart this season after he went in the first round to the Minnesota Vikings.
If Saturday is any indication, the offense won't be missing a beat as long as Williams is under center.
