Heisman Rankings: Daniels rises, Nix cements status in tight race

If daylight savings time is any indication, we're quickly approaching the conclusion of the college football regular season. The coaching carousel has started spinning. The College Football Playoff has done its best to infuriate fanbases from coast to coast. And there have been plenty of adjustments to theScore's Heisman Rankings.

The latest edition sees a late-season debut from a Power 5 quarterback, while another candidate returns to the top five following a breakout performance. We'll do our best to justify our picks, if only to satisfy Tyler from Spartanburg.

Honorable Mentions: Carson Beck, Jordan Travis, Ollie Gordon II, J.J. McCarthy, Dillon Gabriel

5. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

• 2,070 passing yards, 65.2% completion, 28 total touchdowns, 6 INT

Alabama's national championship ambitions significantly rely on the play of the team's dual-threat quarterback. After conducting a nearly disastrous experiment against USF where Jalen Milroe didn't take a snap, Bama has steadily evolved into its best version with the redshirt sophomore at the helm.

What separates Milroe from recent Alabama star QBs such as Tua Tagovailoa and Bryce Young is the spark he provides as a ball carrier. The Texas native has racked up 333 rushing yards, and he became the first signal-caller with three passing scores and three rushing touchdowns in a game in school history. Milroe has also accounted for 21 touchdowns through a six-week stretch, including six scores in a rout over Kentucky. If Milroe can maintain his torrid pace ahead of the SEC title game against Georgia, we may see the Tide roll once again during the Dec. 9 ceremony.

4. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

• 59 receptions, 1,063 receiving yards, 12 touchdown receptions

It's time to climb aboard the "Maserati Marvin" bandwagon. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound wideout has been the engine of the Buckeyes' offense after a slow start to his 2023 campaign. Marvin Harrison Jr. has scored multiple TDs in three consecutive games and crossed the goal line in six straight contests. His latest masterpiece was a seven-reception, 149-yard, three-score gem (two receiving, one rushing) against Michigan State.

Harrison is second in the country with 12 touchdowns and is seventh among all FBS pass-catchers with 106.3 yards per game as Ohio State's top offensive threat. The Philadelphia native also became the first player in program history to record multiple 1,000-receiving-yard campaigns. Harrison will have the opportunity to break David Boston's school record (14) for 100-yard games against either Minnesota or Michigan.

3. Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

• 3,135 passing yards, 77.7% completion, 34 total touchdowns, 2 INT

Bo Nix has positioned himself among the award favorites after a "Heisman-worthy" 412-yard, four-touchdown performance against USC. Nix sports the highest completion rate (77.7%) in the nation while also composing a 29-2 TD-INT ratio. He's also helped Oregon find its footing with consecutive victories after a narrow loss to Washington.

The fifth-year senior has posted a ridiculous 207.87 quarterback rating and averaged 399 yards per game since the start of November. Nix has been one of the country's more efficient passers as he boasts a 91.7 passing grade, according to PFF. The Ducks will need Nix to maintain his productivity in order to beat Arizona State and Oregon State and clinch a spot in the Pac-12 title game. A strong showing against an in-state rival would etch a signature moment in Nix's prolific campaign as well.

2. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

• 3,533 passing yards, 68% completion, 30 total touchdowns, 7 INT

The Huskies remain undefeated in large part due to their left-handed passer. Michael Penix Jr. hasn't been as prolific as he was at the start of the season, but he continues to propel a talented skill group that includes Rome Odunze and Dillon Johnson. The 23-year-old has thrown eight TDs to two interceptions over his past three outings, and he recorded three total scores in a hard-fought victory against Utah this past weekend. He also leads the country with 3,533 passing yards.

Penix and Co. have the opportunity to clinch a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game with a win against either Oregon State or in the Apple Cup against Washington State. As the star signal-caller of a Washington program that has ambitions of winning possibly the last title in conference history and earning an invite to the CFP dance, Penix is poised to flourish in the final act of his 2023 campaign.

1. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

• 3,164 passing yards, 71.4% completion, 38 total touchdowns, 4 INT

Jayden Daniels continues to push the envelope in a remarkable campaign. The senior LSU passer leads the country with a 202.12 quarterback rating and 11.6 yards per attempt. A week after accounting for three scores against Alabama despite suffering a concussion, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound signal-caller delivered a historic performance against Florida. Daniels tallied 606 total yards and became the first FBS player in history to pass for over 350 yards and run for 200 in a single game. He also recorded five total touchdowns.

The numbers definitely support Daniels' case for the stiff-arm trophy. Yet there might be one stat that could haunt the star passer. There have been just 11 players in the illustrious history of the Heisman to win the award with three losses, with Lamar Jackson being the last winner to achieve the feat in 2016. However, the 7-3 Tigers will be favored in their final pair of matchups against Georgia State and Texas A&M. The path should be clear for Daniels to bolster his gaudy totals.