While December marks the end of the regular collegiate football season before post-season bowl games, it also marks the time that one dedicated student athlete will receive the Heisman Trophy, an award given to the most outstanding football player. Speculation for potential nominees and winners has already begun — here’s four players that have put their names into the pool of contenders. 

Caleb Williams

Last year’s Heisman winner has not skipped a beat so far this season. Under the guidance of head coach Lincoln Riley, Caleb Williams has thrown for 878 yards, 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions along with a rushing touchdown in three games. Granted, these numbers came against lesser competition, but nonetheless, the USC quarterback has continued to play at a high level. The Trojans are off this week, but will return to action against Arizona State on Sept. 23. Williams will get his first shot to prove himself on a national stage the week after that when he goes head-to-head against Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes, a team with another Heisman hopeful in Shedeur Sanders. 

Shedeur Sanders

The jump from FCS to Power 5 competition has gone pretty well for Shedeur Sanders. The Jackson State transfer followed his father and coach Deion Sanders to Boulder, Colorado in one of the most noteworthy moves of the offseason. In his first start against last year’s national runner-up TCU, Sanders threw for 510 yards and four touchdowns in a thrilling 45-42 win. He followed that up with a three-touchdown performance against Nebraska last week as the Buffaloes won 36-14. It is safe to say that Sanders has risen to the occasion so far given the hype surrounding his team. He will get another chance this week to display his game when ESPN’s College Gameday and Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff come to town for the Rocky Mountain Showdown against Colorado State. 

Quinn Ewers

Arguably no other quarterback in the country proved himself more this past week than Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. After dealing with injuries and inconsistent play a season ago, the Ohio State transfer flashed his potential on the national stage Saturday night in front of a raucous crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium against then-No. 3 Alabama. The sophomore from Southlake led the Longhorns to a 34-24 victory behind 349 passing yards and three touchdowns. Ewers became the first starting quarterback to beat Alabama at home since Joe Burrow and LSU beat the Crimson Tide in 2019. In two games this season, Ewers has racked up 609 yards in the air across seven touchdowns. The Longhorns will face a tough Wyoming team this week before beginning Big 12 play. 

Michael Penix Jr. 

Yet another Pac-12 quarterback is making noise early in the Heisman race. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. has had a career resurgence in Seattle after transferring in from Indiana. Last season, he helped lead the Huskies to 11 wins and an Alamo Bowl victory in head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first year at the helm. Penix has not slowed down yet, throwing for eight total touchdowns and 859 yards in two blowouts against Tulsa and Boise State, respectively. His performance has propelled Washington to a No. 8 ranking in the AP poll. Penix will square off against a familiar foe this Saturday in Michigan State, a team he is 2–1 against in his college career as a starter.