The college football season began last week with a limited slate of games. But on Labor Day weekend, fans were treated to a full slate of games on Saturday, the first of the 2023 season.
There was a massive upset to start the day with the Colorado Buffaloes, coached by Deion Sanders, beating the TCU Horned Frogs 45-42. Besides that, the top teams all won in convincing fashions. Besides team efforts, fans look forward to seeing who will be the players worth following throughout the year. Perhaps the best way to do so is to follow the early candidates to win the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding player in college football.
Last year, USC quarterback Caleb Williams won the Heisman. Now, he will look to become the second player to win the Heisman in consecutive years. Is Williams still in the driver's seat? Or is there another name or two in front of him?
Here is the Week 1 edition of the Heisman Trophy power rankings.
Heisman Trophy Power Rankings Week 1, No. 10: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Let's start this list off with a quarterback who was expected to ensure that Texas would indeed be "back." That is Quinn Ewers. Last year, Ewers missed time due to a clavicle injury and didn't light up the scoreboards like many had expected him to do after transferring over from Ohio State. The pressure was on Ewers this season, as Arch Manning is waiting in the wings.
On Saturday, Texas faced off against the Rice Owls, and the Longhorns offense had a rough going to start the game. Ewers did throw a 37-yard touchdown pass to running back Jonathon Brooks, but it arrived on a screen pass. From there, Texas could only muster up three field goals by Bert Auburn in the first half. But in the second half, Ewers and Texas' offense got into a groove.
Ewers completed 19-of-30 pass attempts for 260 yards and three touchdowns while also picking up 12 yards and one touchdown on eight carries.
Next week, Texas fans hope that Ewers can help lead the team to victory over Alabama, the team they nearly beat last year. To do so, he'll have to be at the top of his game and have a better start.
Heisman Trophy Power Rankings Week 1, No. 9: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Throughout this offseason, Alabama fans were waiting to see who head coach Nick Saban would name as the starting quarterback for their Week 1 matchup against Middle Tennessee. Sure enough, it was Jalen Milroe, who started last year for an injured Bryce Young. Despite the team having Ty Simpson and gaining Tyler Buchner from the transfer portal vial Notre Dame, Saban trusted in the quarterback who had been with the team in 2021.
That decision turned out to be the right one. Yes, it was a game against Middle Tennessee. But, Milroe made history.
In the 56-7 victory, Milroe completed 13-of-18 pass attempts for 194 yards and three touchdowns while picking up 48 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on seven carries. One of those rushing touchdowns came on an incredible play in which Milroe ran 10 yards backward to retrieve a bad snap, evaded incoming defenders, and reached the end zone in a play truly out of a video game.
Milroe is now the first player in Alabama history to throw three touchdowns and run for two touchdowns in a single game. That's a feat that will get you on the Heisman Trophy power rankings.
Milroe will now look to lead Alabama to a win next week, as they take on the Texas Longhorns, the team that nearly pulled off an upset last year.
Heisman Trophy Power Rankings Week 1, No. 8: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines entered the 2023 season as the second-ranked team in the nation. They fell short of making the College Football Playoff National Championship Game due to their Fiesta Bowl loss to TCU. The team is starting the first three games of this campaign without head coach Jim Harbaugh due to suspension. Those three games are against teams that won't exactly put the Wolverines in danger of losing.
On Saturday, Michigan took on East Carolina. There were no worries for the Wolverines, as quarterback J.J. McCarthy did more than enough to put the game away early.
McCarthy completed all but four of his 30 pass attempts for 280 yards and three touchdowns. All three of those touchdowns were thrown to wide receiver Roman Wilson. Take a look at the latter touchdown of the day.
McCarthy and the Wolverines will next face UNLV Rebels. If McCarthy can put up similar performances against tougher opponents this year, he should be able to climb up the rankings.
Heisman Trophy Power Rankings Week 1, No. 7: Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame
Last year, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish didn't exactly live up to their usual expectations, due in part to the quarterback position. They seemingly solved that issue on paper this offseason by acquiring Wake Forest's Sam Hartman.
The graduate student had a great showing in Week 0 in Dublin, Ireland against Navy. Let's be real, the game wasn't even close, and Notre Dame dominated from start to finish. For those wondering if Hartman would have much of a challenge in Week 1, the answer is no. He faced off against Tennessee State and didn't have a lot of playing time, considering how out of reach the game got for the Tigers.
Hartman completed 14-of-17 pass attempts for 194 yards and two touchdowns while running for 14 yards and one touchdown on four carries. Hartman didn't play for the entirety of the second half.
Next week, Hartman will get to face off against a former ACC foe, the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Last year, Hartman threw for 397 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions against NC State in a 30-21 loss. We'll see if Hartman can get some revenge.
Heisman Trophy Power Rankings Week 1, No. 6: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Caleb Williams will likely be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft when all is said and done. But, there could be serious debate as to who would be the better quarterback prospect between the USC Trojan, or the North Carolina Tar Heel, Drake Maye.
Last year, Maye put himself on the map as a redshirt freshman, leading the Tar Heels to the ACC Championship Game and nearly into the College Football Playoff. This season, as an NFL draft-eligible talent, Maye had the chance to increase his stock. There's no better way to do so than to win the Heisman Trophy.
Playing in the Duke's Mayo Classic against the South Carolina Gamecocks, Maye did have some wow plays. Whether it was a cross-body pass to tight end Bryson Nesbit or a deep touchdown pass to Kobe Paysour. Yes, he did throw a touchdown pass to John Copenhaver, but it was more of a prayer throw that the tight end was able to grab.
Maye completed 24-of-32 pass attempts for 269 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions while running for 25 yards on four carries, in North Carolina's 31-17 win.
It wasn't the greatest statistical game for Maye, but he has the chance to climb up the rankings this season. Next week, he plays Appalachian State.
Heisman Trophy Power Rankings Week 1, No. 5: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
The University of Oregon was the conductor of the "Bo Nix for the Heisman" hype train this offseason. There were a variety of billboards placed across the country declaring that Nix would win the Heisman Trophy. After all, he did have a pretty incredible first season with the Ducks last year after starting off his collegiate career at Auburn. College football fans wondered if he would be able to follow up his previous season.
Well, so far, so good.
Nix got paid for a full day's work and only worked part-time hours on Saturday. The quarterback completed 23-of-27 pass attempts for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Unlike last year, Nix didn't log a single rushing attempt in the season opener.
The quarterback left the game after leading Oregon to a 57-7 lead. The Ducks went on to win the game 81-7.
Heisman Trophy Power Rankings Week 1, No. 4: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Defensive back Travis Hunter was the best prospect in the entire 2022 recruiting class, and for good reason. He was deemed a generational talent who could play cornerback and wide receiver. After initially intending to go to Florida State, Hunter decided to go to Jackson State to play under head coach Deion Sanders.
After last season, Sanders made the jump to Colorado to become their next head coach. Hunter entered the transfer portal and decided to join the Buffaloes football program. There were doubters about Colorado's chances this season, but they quieted them in the opening week against the TCU Horned Frogs, the runner-ups in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
When we say Hunter played nearly the entire game, that's not an over-exaggeration. Hunter logged over 110 snaps playing at corner and wide receiver. On offense, Hunter caught 11 passes for 119 yards, with his longest reception logging in at 43 yards. On defense, he recorded three combined tackles and an interception.
Take a look at some of the highlights of his performance on Saturday, courtesy of Pro Football Focus' Steve Palazzolo.
Hunter showed why he was considered by many recruiting experts to be a generational talent. Next week, Hunter and Colorado will be playing at noon against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Heisman Trophy Power Rankings Week 1, No. 3: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Last year, there were plenty of Heisman Trophy candidates out of the Pac-12, you know, when it was still intact. Besides Caleb Williams, another quarterback was lighting up stat sheets every week, and that was Michael Penix Jr. of Washington. He's a southpaw who has the arm strength and the accuracy to carve up opposing defenses. Well, that's exactly what he did on Saturday against Boise State.
Penix had all the time in the world to make plays through the air. Look no further than his third touchdown pass of the game, where he uncorked a 44-yard pass to Ja'Lynn Polk.
Penix threw for 450 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions while completing 29-of-40 pass attempts. Washington cruised to a 56-19 victory.
While all of the attention is on Williams, Penix should be considered one of the top Heisman contenders this season, and he showed why against Boise State. Next week, he gets to do it again against Tulsa.
Heisman Trophy Power Rankings Week 1, No. 2: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Another Colorado Buffalo makes the Heisman rankings, and deservingly so. While Travis Hunter showcased that he's an absolute force at wide receiver and cornerback, quarterback Shedeur Sanders has the edge based on what he was able to do in a Power 5 conference football game.
Colorado had the hype behind them, as Sanders joined the program alongside his father Deion Sanders. Even so, most didn't give them a chance against TCU, the team that made it to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game last year. Yet, Sanders lit up the Horned Frogs defense for all the viewers to see to start their first full Saturday of college football.
Sanders completed 38 passes for 510 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions on 47 completions. Those 510 yards were a single-game record for any Colorado quarterback. And with that, Sanders put himself on the Heisman power rankings and earned the second spot.
As if Colorado wasn't a must-watch team before, fans will get to see what Sanders can do every week.
Heisman Trophy Power Rankings Week 1, No. 1: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The Heisman Trophy is Caleb Williams' to lose. He already has a game advantage over most of his competition after participating in Week 0, leading the USC Trojans to a dominant win over the San Jose Spartans. Williams had the chance to further his case on Saturday, as they hosted the Nevada Wolfpack.
Williams showed once again why he's the favorite to win the Heisman and to become the first person to win the award in two consecutive years since Ohio State running back Archie Griffin did so back in 1974 and 1975.
In the first half, Williams completed 14-of-19 pass attempts for 258 yards and four touchdowns against Nevada's defense. Let's take a look at some of the big throws he made, and you could say they were Patrick Mahomes-esque.
Williams finished his night by completing 18-of-24 pass attempts for 278 yards and five touchdowns while running for 42 yards on three carries.