Heisman Trophy watch 2023: Michael Penix Jr. soars up the top 5

The 2023 college football season is just chugging along and the Heisman Trophy race is really shaping up to be a fun one with a number of elite players one-upping each other week in and week out.

Week 3 was no exception.

We saw some elite performances from all around the country and our top five hasn’t changed a ton, but the order of the candidates on it has.

And we’re going to see another shuffle this week after some big names, including Michael Penix Jr., had massive weeks.

So here’s the top five heading into Week 4.

I considered moving Audric Estime to this spot, but it’s going to take a big game against Ohio State this week for that to happen. I think it’s possible, but I’m going with Cameron Ward at No. 5 still because, well, he dominated once again.

OK, it was just Northern Colorado, but the Washington State quarterback passed for 327 yards and four touchdowns with just six total incompletions. He also had a rushing score. A quiet little five-touchdown 330-plus total yard performance for the rising star in Pullman. Not too shabby.

There’s a prime opportunity for him to move up these rankings this weekend as well. His Cougars host No. 14 Oregon State. This is a chance for him to show everyone he’s for real.

I’m really looking forward to his matchup with the Beavers.

Through three games, he has 986 passing yards and nine touchdowns with no interceptions and a 72 percent completion rate to go along with 95 rushing yards and two more scores.