Odds According To DraftKings Sportsbook

The Favorites

Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel +750

Dillon Gabriel being the Heisman favorite going into the season is jarring. Yes, he did throw for over 3,600 yards with 30 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions at Oklahoma last year, but he’s coming into an Oregon offense that’s sans Troy Franklin. Oregon did add weapons in the portal like Evan Stewart, but I’m not sure that’ll be enough. I do think Oregon will win the BIG 10, and if they do that, then Gabriel will be at the top of the Heisman rankings at the end of the year. I’m just not sure his numbers will be comparable to what he did last season with the Sooners.

Georgia QB Carson Beck +800

I get why Carson Beck has the second highest odds to win the Heisman, but with the departures of Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey, he doesn’t necessarily have secure safety blankets that he did in 2023. On top of that, the Bulldogs added Trevor Etienne who will be active in the backfield in the run game. That’s good for Beck as it opens up play action, but it’s a negative for his Heisman chances as it’ll diminish his numbers. If I were you the reader betting on who will win the Heisman trophy this year, I’d steer clear of Carson Beck.

Texas QB Quinn Ewers +1000

Now if you want who I think will win the Heisman this year, look no further than Quinn Ewers. Ewers is coming off a season where he threw for 3,479 yards, 22 touchdowns and rushed for 5 touchdowns while leading the Longhorns to the playoffs. Expectations around Ewers going into the year are high, but with Isaiah Bond and Silas Bolden out wide, he has the weapons in order to succeed.

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart +1400

Despite Ole Miss being the Penn State of the SEC (perennially between 8-4 and 9-3 with losses to their big brothers), Jaxson Dart doesn’t hold the Rebels back. With 3,364 passing yards and 23 passing touchdowns to go with 391 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns in 2023, Dart has shown to progressively trend upwards year after year. If he can lead them to big wins vs LSU and Georgia while putting up better numbers than last season, then he could be the Heisman favorite.

Alabama QB Jalen Milroe +1400

Sabans departure has turned Alabama into a non-factor in the college football news cycle, but Jalen Milroe should not be ignored. He’s dynamic both through the air and on the ground as he tallied 35 total touchdowns in 2023. Kalen DeBoer’s offense allowed Michael Penix Jr. to flourish last season and Milroe is far more talented than Penix.

Don’t Count These Guys Out

Ohio State QB Will Howard +1500

Even though I don’t love Will Howard as a player, you can’t deny that he’s talented. Pair his talent with Emeka Egbuka, Jeremiah Smith, TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, then you’re looking at the formula for success. With that being said, that’s a formula to possibly win the BIG 10. There’s a lot of mouths to feed and I think Howard, Judkins and Henderson could all be in Heisman contention, but that means two of the three I listed most likely won’t put up Heisman numbers.

Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard +2200

Of course I’m going to be biased towards Riley Leonard as a Notre Dame fan. Due to injury, Leonard only saw time in seven games with Duke last year, but in 2022, he combined for 31 touchdowns through the air and on the ground. Notre Dames prostyle offense that utilizes play action fits Leonards play style very nicely. He has the potential to put up big numbers as Notre Dame has a cushy schedule. If he can lead the Irish to wins vs Texas A&M, USC and Florida State, then I think Leonard could be Notre Dames first Heisman winner since 1987.

Colorado QB Shedur Sanders +3500

I don’t need to dote on the talent of Shedur Sanders. It’s obvious that he’s immensely gifted, but what will hurt Shedur Sanders is that as the QB of Colorado, record does matter for the Heisman race. It’s not the whole spectrum of winning the award, but it does matter. I think Colorado is in for another 4-8/5-7 season and it won’t matter what Sanders’ numbers are for the Heisman race.

Missouri QB Brady Cook +3500

Missouri with Brady Cook at the helm broke out in the SEC in 2023 and I don’t see why it’ll be any different in 2024 with Cook back. Last season he passed for 3,317 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for another 8 scores. A big reason why I like Cook to potentially win the Heisman this year is that he has the best wideout in college football to throw to with Luther Burden III. Along with that, SEC quarterbacks the past few years have a good track record winning the Heisman as three of the last five were gunslingers from SEC teams.

Penn State QB Drew Allar +4500

I added Drew Allar to my Heisman Big Board merely to dismiss his chances. Penn State is going to be a disappointing squad this season and, while Allar is a fine quarterback, he doesn’t do enough in big games to even come close to sniffing the Heisman race in 2024. Against Michigan and Ohio State in 2023, he combined for 28-64 on pass attempts and 2 touchdowns. The one aspect that works in favor of Allar is he doesn’t turn the ball over. He only threw 2 interceptions in 2023, but that also tells me he doesn’t take risks. No guts, no glory.

Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter +5000

While record matters in the case for his teammate Shedur Sanders, it doesn’t really for Travis Hunter. last season, Hunter did it all as he amassed 57 catches for 721 yards and 5 touchdowns while adding 31 tackles and 3 interceptions. If those numbers can trend upwards this season around 70 catches, 800 yards and 7 touchdowns with 40 tackles and 4 interceptions, then he will definitely be a finalist for the Heisman trophy. I think he should’ve been one in 2023.

Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins +7500

I don’t need to rehash the mouths to feed argument I made with Howard regarding Judkins. All you need to know is that he’s the best (or second best) running back in college football. With Ole Miss last season Judkins rushed for 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns. He did that against teams like Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M and Georgia. Now you’re telling me that he’s playing against teams like Purdue, Michigan State and Nebraska? If he didn’t have to split carries with Henderson, he’d be rushing for north of 1,500 yards in 2024.

Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon +7500

And now the argument for why the best (or second best) running back in college football could win the Hesiman. If any player that’s not a quarterback could win the Heisman, I think it’s Ollie Gordon. He’s the heart and soul of Oklahoma States offense, and when I say that, no disrespect to Alan Bowman, he’s all they have. In 2023, Gordon rushed for 1,732 yards and 21 scores and I only see his numbers increasing as Oklahoma State has a fairly easy schedule ahead of them this season.

Long Shots

Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson +8000

Henderson is going to be RB2 in Columbus this season, but that doesn’t disqualify him as a Heisman candidate. He was the Buckeyes lead back in 2023 rushing for 926 yards and 11 touchdowns. With Judkins transferring north, Henderson’s carries will decrease, but if his impact stays the same as last year with similar numbers, his name will circulate around Heisman time.

Missouri WR Luther Burden III +8000

The best wide receiver in college football is undoubtedly Luther Burden III. Last season he reeled in 86 passes from Brady Cook going for 1,212 yards and 9 touchdowns and he’s looking to once again dominate the SEC. The only real issue with Burden III being a Heisman contender when the year closes is that if his numbers are great, that most likely means Brady Cooks numbers are great. The committee would more than likely give Cook the nod as a finalist over Burden III.

Georgia RB Trevor Etienne +10000

One of the top transfers this offseason was running back Trevor Etienne leaving Florida after rushing for 753 yards and 8 scores last season and heading to Georgia. I mentioned earlier that McConkey and Bowers are gone, so the Georgia offense needs someone to be of assistance to Carson Beck. Etienne, who has a dominant offensive line in front of him, will shoulder the burden of the entire Bulldog run game and be an additional threat in the passing game.

North Carolina State QB Grayson McCall +11000

My pick to win the ACC this season in the North Carolina State Wolfpack. And they’ll achieve that feat behind the arm of the dynamic Grayson McCall. McCall only played in seven games with Coastal Carolina last year due to injury, but still was able to pass for 1,919 yard and 10 touchdowns. He has nice weapons like Justin Joly and Jordan Waters around him along with a tough offensive line. McCall can get it done through the air and with his legs and I don’t think there’ll be a learning curve in the ACC for McCall.

Penn State RB Nick Singleton +15000

This blog isn’t meant to bash Penn State, so I won’t get back into why I think they’ll fail this season, but one of those reasons isn’t because of Nick Singleton. He’s a hard nosed runner that will run past and through any defender in the BIG 10. His numbers last season, 752 yards and 8 total touchdowns, weren’t unbelievable, but if Allar struggles this year, especially in big games vs West Virginia, USC, Ohio State and Washington, then Singleton will get the call and come up big.

Syracuse QB Kyle McCord +20000

When Kyle McCord transferred to Syracuse, the buzz around the Orange was loud. But it’s seemingly died down as the offseason’s progressed. McCord, while he was blessed with Harrison, Egbuka and Stover, played very well as he threw for 24 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. The Orange loaded up in the portal this offseason and surrounded McCord with weapons that could push his name into the Heisman race. At +20000, it’s worth sprinkling a little money on McCord.

Michigan DT Mason Graham (No Odds Available)

Shockingly, there are no odds available for Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham to win the Heisman trophy. He’s one of the favorites to win the Outland Trophy and I think he’s one of the best players in all of college football; maybe the best defender. Last season he made 35 tackles, 3 sacks and 1 forced fumble, but what’s most noticeable is how dominant he looked against Alabama and Washington in the playoffs. He’ll see a lot of double teams this season, but that shouldn’t stop his dominance.