Heisman Watch: Marvin Harrison Jr. Will Need Big Game Against Michigan to Have Shot at Award

At a minimum, the Ohio State wide receiver can play himself into a spot in New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist with a big game against Michigan. Entering the final week of the regular season, Harrison currently has the fourth-best odds to win the Heisman (60/1), according to FanDuel.

Even with a spectacular performance against the Wolverines, Harrison will likely need some help to win the Heisman. While Harrison appeared to be right in the thick of the race after his seven-catch, 149-yard, three-touchdown performance against Michigan State two weeks ago, his odds have fallen well behind a trio of quarterbacks after he caught only three passes for 30 yards and one touchdown against Minnesota.

That said, Harrison has certainly made a strong case for a trip to New York through 11 games this season, totaling 62 catches for 1,093 yards and 13 touchdowns along with 26 yards and a touchdown on the ground. But Harrison isn’t focused on winning the Heisman as the Buckeyes prepare to play their rivals this weekend.

“Honestly, that wasn’t in my head at all,” Harrison said when asked if he’s thought about winning the Heisman. “I just want us to beat the team up north and go to the Big Ten championship. I’ve kind of been saying that all year. Those are the two goals I've had before the season even started.”

Harrison has eclipsed 100 receiving yards in seven games and has scored at least one touchdown in nine games this season, with four multi-touchdown games. But Ohio State’s coaches believe voters need to look beyond the stats when considering Harrison as a Heisman candidate.

"You hope, you know, at times, that these awards aren't just stat awards. There's a lot that goes into things and if it's just a stat award, they should just call it that," Brian Hartline said last week. "But if you're trying to find the best player in college football, obviously I'm biased, but he's the best player in college football."

Even while fighting through double teams throughout much of the season, Harrison has found ways to get open and make plays. And when he doesn't have the ball, he still finds a way to make an impact, whether it be with his blocking or just as a decoy for his teammates, proving his selflessness.

“But if you're trying to find the best player in college football, obviously I'm biased, but (Marvin Harrison's) the best player in college football.”– Brian Hartline

There would be no better Heisman Moment than for Harrison to lead Ohio State to its first win in The Game in four years with a huge performance in Ann Arbor.

Only eight wide receivers – Howard Twilley (Tulsa, 1965), Johnny Rodgers (Nebraska, 1972), Tim Brown (Notre Dame, 1987), Raghib Ismail (Notre Dame, 1990), Desmond Howard (Michigan, 1991), David Palmer (Alabama, 1993), Amari Cooper (Alabama, 2014) and DeVonta Smith (Alabama, 2020) – have ever finished in the top three in Heisman voting. Most recently, Cooper finished with 124 catches for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns in 14 games in 2014 while Smith had 117 receptions for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns in 13 games when he won the award in 2020.

While Harrison’s numbers aren’t quite that gaudy, a big day on the box score and a highlight-reel catch (or multiple) in the biggest game of the year would certainly make an impression on Heisman voters. If the Buckeyes beat Michigan while Harrison does well and leads the offense, there's a very good chance OSU will have a representative in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord, meanwhile, is tied with Michigan's J.J. McCarthy and Blake Corum (all at 250/1) for the seventh-best odds. Ohio State’s last three starting quarterbacks have all been Heisman finalists in their first year starting for the Buckeyes, though it would be a surprise if McCord joins them in that category this season.

McCord has had a solid first season as Ohio State's starting quarterback, completing 211 of 318 passes (66.4%) for 2,899 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions, but not one likely to warrant Heisman consideration. That said, oddsmakers seem to be leaving the door open for the possibility that McCord – or McCarthy or Corum on the other side – has a standout game Saturday that propels him into the conversation for the stiff-arm trophy.

Jayden Daniels would be the clear-cut frontrunner for college football's most prestigious individual award if it weren't for the fact that LSU is 8-3 and has no shot of playing in the SEC championship, let alone the College Football Playoff. In 11 games this season, he has completed 220-of-303 passes (72.6%) for 3,577 yards (third-most in the FBS), 36 touchdowns (leads the country) and four interceptions. Daniels has also added 1,014 yards (21st) and 10 touchdowns (tied for 30th) on the ground as well. He has eclipsed 500 total yards and at least five touchdowns in each of the Tigers' last two wins (over Florida and Georgia State), making him a leader in the Heisman race right now, but he’ll have only one more chance to impress Heisman voters against Texas A&M this weekend because LSU isn’t in the SEC Championship Game. 

Bo Nix is also doing his best to show he deserves the award. While leading Oregon to a 10-1 record thus far, the quarterback has completed 282-of-361 passes (78.1%) for 3,539 yards and 35 touchdowns with only two interceptions. Nix has also run for 128 yards and five touchdowns. If Oregon beats Oregon State this weekend, Nix will have another chance to impress Heisman voters in the Pac-12 Championship Game, where he’ll face off with another Heisman contender in Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.

Penix was the frontrunner to win the award earlier in the season, but his odds have fallen a bit due to his average play in two of Washington's last three games, including a season-low 46.4% completion percentage last Saturday at Oregon State. Through 11 games, Penix has completed 262-of-394 passes for 3,695 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also has three rushing touchdowns. Penix still has a shot if he can stand out in Washington’s season finale against Washington State and in the Pac-12 Championship Game while leading the Huskies to a conference title and a College Football Playoff berth.

The Buckeyes haven't had a Heisman winner since 2006, when Troy Smith brought the award back to Columbus. Since Archie Griffin won back-to-back trophies in 1974 and 1975, Ohio State has had just two Heisman Trophy winners: Smith and Eddie George (1995).

Ohio State has had at least one Heisman finalist in four of the last five seasons, with C.J. Stroud earning trips to New York in each of the past two seasons. Harrison can ensure that streak continues if he has a big game this weekend when the Buckeyes need him most.