College football players have not yet reported to fall camp. Nevertheless, the Heisman Trophy hype train started about a week after Ohio State won the national championship. The reason for this is that if a school has a legitimate candidate, that individual could stay a top contender even after a couple of ordinary contests. A player not in the Top 10 will have to be brilliant for a month just to catch everyone’s attention.
This is why hype matters, as not one player who was in the Top 10 of Heisman voting returns, thus, like the NBA Draft, generated perception is often based on speculation.
Who should we be looking at before the start of the season if you want to make a wager? Proceed forward.
Heisman Trophy Odds
*Odds from Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
| Player | Position | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arch Manning | QB | Texas | +750 |
| Garrett Nussmeier | QB | LSU | +850 |
| Cade Klubnik | QB | Clemson | +1200 |
| Drew Allar | QB | Penn State | +1400 |
| Jeremiah Smith | WR | Ohio State | +1400 |
| Julian Sayin | QB | Ohio State | +1600 |
| Nico Iamaleava | QB | Tennessee | +1600 |
| Dante Moore | QB | Oregon | +1800 |
| LaNorris Sellers | QB | South Carolina | +2000 |
| Carson Beck | QB | Miami-FL | +2000 |
| DJ Lagway | QB | Florida | +2200 |
The True Contenders
QB Arch Manning – Texas (+600)
Manning has hardly played in two years, but he has brand-name recognition.
Manning’s on a loaded Texas team again, thought to reach the Final Four at a minimum. He has the full package as an athlete and, by all accounts, is an accurate passer. The favorite? Not sure, however, at least deserving of the Top 5.
QB Garrett Nussmeier – LSU (+850)
Nussmeier has put together two excellent seasons in Baton Rouge. He’s also played without a running game for one season and not enough defense for two years. Proven pocket passer who’s developed his on-the-move abilities. Plays well in the biggest games. Nussmeier can leapfrog Klubnik with a win over Clemson.
QB Cade Klubnik – Clemson (+1000)
A more proven commodity than Manning, who came into his own last year.
Klubnik is a solid athlete and was a much better thrower of the football in the second half of 2024, having learned to stay calm in the pocket.
Clemson, on paper, appears better than the #7 team based on sportsbooks’ futures. A good choice if he plays well in the opening game against LSU.
WR Jeremiah Smith (+1200) / QB Julian Sayin (+1500) – Ohio StateÂ
Smith deserves his stated odds more than Sayin. However, how Smith performs is dependent on Sayin getting him the ball. If Ohio State stays in the Top 5 into November, these Buckeyes will split enough votes to cancel each other out.
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Those Who Could Move Up
QB Drew Allar – Penn State (+1400)
Of those players in this contingent, Allar makes the most sense to leap forward. He has the experience and ample top-tier players around him. To move to the top spot, Allar has to trust himself that he’s that good and needs coach James Franklin to completely count on him to play his best in big moments.
QB LaNorris Sellers – South Carolina (+1800) / QB DJ Lagway – Florida (+2000)
Harnessing raw talent occurred for both quarterbacks at the end of last season. That’s why they could elevate their games to a different level. What holds them back is playing for clubs that project to win about eight games. Unless their teams win at least 10 times and are in meaningful SEC late-season matchups, their odds seem a bit high.
QB Dante Moore – Oregon (+2000)
Oregon has the talent to hang with Ohio State and Penn State. Moore has to show greater maturity than when he was a UCLA freshman two years ago. Moore will have far better teammates to support him. If he can take off for the start of the Big Ten season, he moves up the ladder.
Longshots
QB Carson Beck – Miami-FL (+2800)
If Beck has a monster year at Miami, he could dramatically lift his chances. He’ll need a fast start to erase the end of his time at Georgia, which saw his NFL Draft stock plummet.
QB Austin Simmons – Mississippi (+3300)
Simmons candidacy starts with is he as good as Jaxson Dart from last season at Ole Miss? To start the year, the Rebels don’t look as strong across the board, and another 9-3 campaign won’t give Simmons a chance.
QB Ty Simpson – Alabama (+3300)
With whom Alabama has sent to the NFL from the QB position over the last decade or more, Simpson deserves consideration. Coach Kalen DeBoer’s offense is quarterback-friendly. If Simpson shows his talent and the Crimson Tide win, people will learn who he is.
QB CJ Carr – Notre Dame (+3300)
Though plenty of schools have sent more quarterbacks to the pros, no player at this position draws more scrutiny from the real and subway alumni than Notre Dame. Carr has to find his footing first before he can exceed.
QB Kevin Jennings – SMU (+4000)
Jennings returns from an 11-1 squad that could have won the ACC in their first attempt and made the CFB Playoffs. If SMU is 6-0, averaging 40+ points a game, and upsets Clemson in Death Valley, Jennings will shoot up like a meteor.
RB Jeremiyah Love – Notre Dame (+4000)
We have to have one running back, right? The best running back in the country is Love, and if Notre Dame is 11-1 or possibly 10-2, a very good chance he’s invited to New York for the trophy presentation. Most likely wouldn’t win, but have a seat.
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
