The campaign for LSU star Jayden Daniels to win the Heisman Trophy has reached Las Vegas — and the Tigers won’t even play a game in the city.
Instead, it’s where two of his competitors — Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. — for one of college football’s most prestigious honors meet in the Pac-12 title game Friday night.
Daniels’ pace was printed on a billboard located on Interstate-15 and Flamingo Road, and while it’s unclear if the football program or university sponsored the support that read “That Kid Jayden,” the football account posted a photo on X and invited fans to check out the sign.
“The Best Player in College Football,” the account wrote in its post.
The Post’s Zach Braziller ranked Daniels as his leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy — ahead of Nix, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Penix and Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe Jr. — after the final weekend of the regular season, but Daniels and LSU, at 9-3, don’t have a chance at making the College Football Playoff.
Daniels threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns across the 12 games, while also adding another 1,134 net rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
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Daniels spent his first three collegiate seasons at Arizona State before transferring to the Tigers in 2022, and he helped LSU advance to the SEC title game last year and crush Purdue in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
“You throw for four touchdown passes against that defense and put up 42 points, it sure as heck can’t hurt you,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly told reporters Nov. 25 after a win against Texas A&M, according to the Associated Press. And obviously running the way he did, I just think he strengthened his case for the Heisman.”
But the Tigers’ three losses — to Florida State, Ole Miss and Alabama — dropped them to a third-place finish in the SEC West, behind the Rebels and the Crimson Tide.
It’s unclear how the end-of-season standings could impact Daniel’s quest for the Heisman, but with a win in the Pac-12 title game Friday, either Nix or Penix would keep their respective programs alive for a CFP berth.
Nix, who started his career at Auburn before transferring to Oregon for the 2022 season, has thrown for 3,906 yards, 37 touchdowns and just two interceptions, while Penix Jr. — who started at Indiana before shifting to the Huskies — has tossed for 3,899, 32 and eight, respectively.
