Heisman Trophy 2023 finalists ranked by each player's chance to win

Who is the favorite to win the 2023 Heisman Trophy and take home college football's most prestigious honor?

Of all the individual honors given to players in college football, none has ever been, or will ever be, as prestigious as the Heisman Trophy. 

Handed out for almost 90 years, since the 1935 season, the honor named for legendary player and coach John Heisman is handed to the "most outstanding college football player in the United States whose performance epitomizes great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work."

Related: College football teams with the most Heisman Trophy winners

The final four finalists have been selected for the trip to New York and consideration for college football's highest honor. Who has the best chance to hoist the Heisman? Here's our prediction for the 2023 winner, ranked from least likely to most likely.

4. Marvin Harrison, Jr.

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Odds to win: +20000

What he did: 67 rec, 1,211 yards, 14 TDs

Why he can win: Few players were as critical to their offense functioning at a high level than Harrison, who so often was Ohio State's release valve when throwing the football this season. The wide receiver did some of his best work in the Buckeyes' biggest games. When he played his best, so did his team, and when he didn't play his best, neither did his team.

Why he won't win: In the last 20 years, only one wide receiver won the Heisman Trophy (DeVonta Smith, Alabama, 2020). Smith had more production that year, and was on a team that was in the playoff.

3. Bo Nix

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Odds to win: +1500

What he did: 77.2% completion, 4,145 yards, 40 TDs, 3 INTs

Why he can win: The Oregon quarterback is 1st nationally in completion, 2nd in yards, 4th in yards per attempt, 4th in adjusted yards per attempt, 1st in touchdowns, 2nd in passer rating, and had just 3 interceptions. Under his leadership, the Ducks' offense was simply unstoppable much of the season.

Why he won't win: Those two losses head-to-head against Washington, an even more impressive offense led by a quarterback who is also a Heisman finalist.

2. Michael Penix, Jr.

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Odds to win: +900

What he did: 65.9% completion, 4,218 yards, 33 TDs, 10 INTs

Why he can win: His presence in the Huskies' offense is simply the difference between this team making the College Football Playoff or it being simply good. Penix led college football in passing yardage en route to the Pac-12 title, beating Oregon twice in the same season.

Why he won't win: Some voters may not pick Penix given the close games Washington played down the stretch, or more likely because of the overall production put up by the quarterback who remains the odds-on favorite in 2023...

1. Jayden Daniels

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Odds to win: -1200

What he did: 72.2% completion, 3,812 yards, 40 TDs, 4 INTs

Why he can win: Daniels has been an inspiration for LSU since his transfer, pacing all quarterbacks in passer rating, tied for 1st in passing touchdowns, third in yards, while throwing only four interceptions, and tacking on 1,154 rushing yards and 10 additional touchdowns. In 2023, he became the first player in FBS history to have 350 passing yards and 200 rushing yards in one game.

Why he won't win: Some voters could dock Daniels for the fact that LSU "only" won nine games, and that its three losses came against the better teams on its schedule. And he would be the first Heisman winner since Lamar Jackson in 2016 to not play for his conference championship.

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