2023 Heisman Trophy: Comparing Jayden Daniels’ season to past Heisman-winning quarterbacks

• Jayden Daniels is now the heavy Heisman favorite: Daniels is -1200, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, to win the Heisman Trophy.

• Daniels ranks second to only Joe Burrow in grade: Daniels’ 94.7 grade this season would be the second-best mark for a Heisman-winning quarterback in the PFF College era, trailing LSU counterpart Joe Burrow.

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After entering conference championship weekend with the second-best Heisman Trophy odds, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is now the heavy favorite at most sportsbooks. When comparing his numbers to the other two Heisman finalist quarterbacks, it’s not difficult to see why.

Comparing Jayden Daniels to Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr.

*WAA refers to Wins Above Average, a PFF metric that helps contextualize a college football player's value.

Keep in mind, Daniels played one fewer game than Nix and Penix, who met in the Pac-12 Championship game. Many are using LSU’s 9-3 season as an argument against the fifth-year senior. However, that had everything to do with LSU’s defensive woes rather than Daniels. The Tigers fielded the most efficient offense in the nation in expected points added per play while the defense allowed an average of 47.3 points in the team's three losses.

There is a precedent for Heisman winners whose teams weren’t necessarily national title contenders, as well. Only 14 players have won the Heisman on a team that suffered three or more losses, most recently Louisville’s Lamar Jackson in 2016.

The debate is no longer whether Daniels deserves the stiff-arm trophy. Rather, it’s how his season stacks up to past Heisman winners. Since PFF began charting college football in 2014, seven quarterbacks have won the award.

Jayden Daniels’ Grade Compared to Heisman-Winning QBs in PFF College era (Since 2014)

Burrow’s 2019 season is widely regarded as the greatest campaign that college football has ever seen, and even his grade was only 0.2 points higher than his LSU counterpart. When looking at the base stats, Daniels again stacks up well.

Jayden Daniels’ Total Yards and TDs Compared to Heisman-Winning QBs in PFF College era (Since 2014)

*Stats through conference championship weekend since the Heisman is awarded before bowl games begin

No matter how one slices it, Daniels engineered one of the most impressive quarterback seasons in recent memory. Three losses be damned, he’s more than worthy of taking home the Heisman.