The Heisman Conversation: LSU QB Jayden Daniels Surging Once Again

Daniels is fresh off of a historic night in Tiger Stadium, rewriting the record books.

LSU signal-caller Jayden Daniels has virtually punched his ticket to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist after another jaw-dropping performance in Week 11 against Florida. 

Daniels ended the night rushing for 234 yards and passing for 372 yards in an impressive SEC victory Saturday night.

It started with an impressive opening drive, but it didn't stop there. An 85-yard touchdown run, a 51-yard touchdown run and a handful of impressive downfield throws along the way stole the show for Daniels once again.

Well... Was Saturday night against Florida his Heisman moment? Daniels thinks so.

“I would say so, as humbly as possible,” Daniels said. “I just give thanks to God and my teammates because without them I wouldn’t be in this situation.”

A performance for the ages, Daniels knew once he walked into the locker room that he would be surrounded by overjoyed teammates, but his head coach showed the most praise.

Kelly, who admitted he's never seen a player do what Daniels is doing, raved about his quarterback's play.

Jayden Daniels has pieced together one of the greatest performances in #LSU history:

17/26 passing
372 yards
3 TDs

12 rushing attempts
234 yards
2 TDs

606 (!) total yards of offense.

Cementing a legacy in Baton Rouge…

You feel him yet? @HeismanTrophy pic.twitter.com/I0fuRZdV8u

— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) November 12, 2023

“If (Daniels) didn’t win (the Heisman Trophy) tonight he has got to be the leading candidate,” Kelly said. “Unless the Heisman is just about popularity. If you want to be the most popular then fine, but he is the best player in college football.

“You can say whatever you want, we are 7-3 and whoever else is undefeated. That doesn’t mean anything. What matters is who is the best player and he is the best player. A night like tonight kind of solidifies that. He did something tonight that no one has ever done. If that doesn’t make you the leading candidate, then maybe the Heisman isn’t really for the best player.”

Daniels' numbers speak for themselves. He's now up to 3,164 yards and 30 touchdowns passing while adding 918 yards and eight touchdowns rushing. It's historic and many people are running out of superlatives for the Tigers' QB1.

On Saturday, Daniels made history once again. He became the first player in FBS history to total 350 passing yards and 200+ rushing yards in a single game. 

There is a running list of Heisman candidates. From Washington's Michael Penix Jr. to Oregon's Bo Nix to Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., there is a list of worthy candidates, but the numbers that Daniels continues putting up has him firmly in the mix.

If one was in search of that one "Heisman Moment" for Daniels, they certainly got it on Saturday night. A player who has routinely put the Bayou Bengals on his back, Daniels continues going above and beyond for his program as the Tigers look to close out the season on a positive note.