SEATTLE — Michael Penix Jr. added another big-time performance to his résumé on Saturday, throwing for 256 yards and two touchdowns to help the Washington Huskies take down the USC Trojans 52-42.
With the Huskies remaining undefeated, Penix Jr. likewise remains atop the betting odds for the Heisman Trophy, college football's most coveted individual award.
No Husky has won the Heisman Trophy before, with the most recent contender from UW being former quarterback Jake Browning, who finished sixth in the voting for the 2016 edition of the award.
Here is where Penix Jr. stands in relation to the rest of the nation's top candidates, with the winner set to be announced on Dec. 9. The betting odds are courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday.
1. Michael Penix Jr. (+150)
Several lackadaisical performances in a row kept UW out of the initial top four of the College Football Playoff rankings released on Oct. 31.
Nobody in Division I- Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) has more passing yards than Penix Jr. this season. As long as UW remains unbeaten and Penix continues to post high yardage and touchdown numbers, the southpaw will be on track to win the first Heisman in school history.
If he or the Huskies have another poor performance offensively, however, one of the below stars might be able to usurp him.
2. Bo Nix (+200)
If Nix and the Oregon Ducks had not missed a last-second field goal and instead beaten UW in October at Husky Stadium, Nix would easily be the betting favorite for this award.
The veteran QB has the highest completion percentage in the nation (78.1%) and Oregon's offense has looked unstoppable with him at the helm. Nix is likely to get a rematch with UW in the Pac-12 Championship Game at the end of the regular season, and a win there could push him over Penix Jr.
3. Jayden Daniels (+300)
Some UW and Seattle-based Pac-12 football fans might remember Daniels from his first few collegiate seasons at Arizona State. Daniels transferred to LSU before the 2022 season and has been putting up monster numbers ever since in the toughest conference in college football.
Daniels has thrown more touchdown passes than either Penix Jr. or Nix, but he likely already has had his Heisman moment in last weekend's loss to Alabama. Daniels had to leave Saturday's loss after a brutal hit from an Alabama defender, so his availability for the rest of the regular season remains to be seen.
Also in the mix:
4. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan (+600)
5. Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State (+800)
6. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State (+1000)
