This week is all about the quarterback.
In what will be six games between ranked teams, Week 4 presents a slate of games that should reveal true contenders and playmakers among game-commnading quarterbacks.
This week’s top-10 bout is between No. 6 Ohio State and No. 9 Notre Dame. The two teams met in Columbus a season ago and this team will see new quarterback play between the Buckeyes’ Kyle McCord and Fighting Irish’s Sam Hartman.
READ: Big Board: Week 3
Here are several players and notes to keep a tab on in this week’s Big Board.
Jayden Daniels, LSU
Daniels’ Heisman Trophy odds are +2500 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
After the 41-14 win over Mississippi State, Daniels was named Co-Offensive Player of the Week by the Southeastern Conference.
He posted season-high numbers in a few statistical categories, including 361 passing yards and an 88.2% completion.
Daniels’ season has been up and down so far. He’s experienced the highs of a five-touchdown performance in Week 2 against Grambling State and the lows of a top-five loss in Week 1 to No. 4 Florida State.
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Daniels and No. 12 LSU’s season is far from over. This week, they go up against Arkansas State before back-to-back weeks on the road, which stand to test the Tigers quarterback entering the latest round of his Heisman campaign in his second season with LSU.
Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
Gabriel’s Heisman odds are +2500 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Gabriel set the Oklahoma single-game program record for completion percentage behind his 28-for-31 performance last Saturday. He added on 421 passing yards and five touchdowns, all through mostly three quarters of play.
He was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts, the first of Gabriel’s season.
Gabriel is a newcomer to the Big Board. He’s no stranger to college football though, as the fifth-year quarterback has 12,110 career passing yards.
Oklahoma is quietly enjoying a smooth start to its season. With Gabriel under center, the Sooners have a lethal passing options to employ during a season in which they hope to rebound from a 6-7 record from a year ago.
Sam Hartman, Notre Dame
Hartman’s Heisman odds are +1000 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Hartman has a big game coming up this week.
This time around, No. 9 Notre Dame will host a top-five showdown in South Bend, Indiana, when the Fighting Irish welcome No. 6 Ohio State to town.
To say Hartman will be prepared is likely an understatement.
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Also a veteran of college football, the sixth-year veteran last week posted a season-high total of 330 passing yards. He’s settling into a groove as he also added three more touchdown passes to his NCAA-leading total of 13.
Saturday will be Hartman’s first time playing Ohio State as Notre Dame looks to get back at a loss in last year’s season-opener. He’ll have an advantage playing as well as he has and with the experience he’s gained under center.
Bo Nix, Oregon
Nix’s Heisman odds are +2000 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Just like Hartman, Nix has a chance to come up big in a marquee matchup with No. 19 Colorado.
The No. 10 Ducks joined the top-10 after posting three-straight wins to start the season. They’ve outscored opponents 174-47.
Nix has also quietly enjoyed a solid season thus far. Through three games he has 893 passing yards to rank No. 16 in the NCAA and a 181.03 passing efficiency rating to rank No. 15.
The fifth-year quarterback has gotten things done briefly on the ground in addition to what he can do with his arm. Nix ran nine times in Week 2 against Texas Tech to total 46 rushing yards.
Much is left to learn about Nix, who spent the first three seasons of his career at Auburn. A big showing and a halting of Colorado’s hype train could springboard Nix further into the Heisman mix.
Michael Penix Jr.
Penix’s Heisman odds are +480 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Over four weeks, Penix has appeared on the Big Board most of all.
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He’s taken a place on the Big Board three out of the first four weeks of the season, and Penix is showing no signs of slowing down.
Penix was named the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. He added his third-consecutive 400-plus yard outing to start the year.
At Michigan State last Saturday, Penix threw for a season-high 473 yards. He added four touchdowns through the air and also had a season-best 77.1% completion.
Penix has the best Heisman Trophy odds of any of the five quarterbacks on this week’s Big Board. He trails only reigning winner Caleb Williams in the running.
