Regardless of record and overall team performance, Jayden Daniels should win the Heisman Trophy.
Throughout every college football season, there is always a performance or a play from one of the top players in the country that grabs the whole country’s attention and solidifies their chances of winning the trophy. This is called a “Heisman moment.”
Whether it was Johnny Manziel in 2012 against Alabama, Joe Burrow in 2019 against Alabama or Lamar Jackson defeating No. 2 ranked Florida State by 43 and having four rushing touchdowns.
Daniels had his moment on Saturday.
Daniels had one of the best games in college football history. He had 372 passing and three passing touchdowns while also having 234 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Daniels became the first player in FBS history with 350 passing yards and 200 rushing yards in a game.
It was an incredible performance by Daniels as he showed off his tremendous accuracy once again through the air and his athleticism on the ground.
He was already on many people’s radars for the Heisman, and this performance took it up a notch. However, many people still aren’t ready to hand it over, and it’s understandable with players such as Bo Nix from Oregon, J.J. McCarthy from Michigan, Michael Penix Jr. and even Marvin Harrison Jr. from Ohio State.
Nix has thrown for 3,135 yards, 29 passing touchdowns and leads the country in completion percentage. McCarthy has 2,194 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns and is second in completion percentage. Penix leads the nation in passing yards with 3,533, 28 passing touchdowns and a top five quarterback rating. Harrison ranks seventh in receiving yards with 1,063 and No. 2 in touchdowns with 12.
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Meanwhile, Daniels ranks third in passing yards with 3,164, No. 1 in passing touchdowns and passer rating and No. 7 in completion percentage. He is also the only quarterback in the top 30 in rushing yards with 918, showing he can get it done both through the air and on the ground.
With a great pool of players, I can understand the hesitation, but the main reason why people aren’t ready to give Daniels his flowers is due to his team’s record.
The Tigers currently stand at 7-3, and other Heisman candidates have one loss or are undefeated. Due to this, some voters don’t want to consider Daniels for the Heisman.
If you’re the best player in college football, then you’re the best player in college football. It’s that simple.
Those stats right there should be recognized as one of the best players in the country, and combined with a historic performance against Florida, there’s no doubt that he should be at the top of the Heisman votes.
The argument of the team’s record is also unfair due to the fact previous Heisman winners have had the same records or even worse.
Tim Tebow’s Florida team went 9-4 in 2007, Lamar Jackson’s Cardinals went 9-4 in 2016, Robert Griffin III went 10-3 and even Caleb Williams last year with USC finished 11-3.
Although some of their losses came in the postseason, in conference championships or bowl games, the result was giving the award to the best player in the country, which they were.
At a certain point, you have to throw records out and think about who is the most deserving. It’s not just based on the team’s success. It’s the same situation in other sports leagues where they have to not only consider the best player in their league, but also the team’s record as well, and there have been several times when controversy has struck.
There are still games left for the college football season, and many things can happen, but after what Daniels did against Florida on Saturday, he should be the favorite to win the Heisman.
It’s time we put team records aside and start thinking about who is the best player in college football, and right now it’s Daniels.
