2024 Updated Heisman Odds: Transfer Portal causes big shift
Spring practice hasn’t started yet, but there is already plenty of excitement surrounding the 2024 season. That includes tons of excitement for the 2024 Heisman Trophy race.
There is still plenty of time for these Heisman Trophy odds to change. After all, Spring practice hasn’t even started yet and there are still going to be changes that come from the Transfer Portal. However, there is a great benefit to looking at the odds for the Heisman Trophy race. It allows you to see what the perception is of certain players at this particular moment in time.
The folks at FanDuel have come out with updated odds for the 2024 Heisman Trophy less than a month after last season’s College Football Playoff came to an end.
T-1. Texas QB Quinn Ewers +750
It’s no surprise that Quinn Ewers is one of two quarterbacks to currently lead the odds for next season’s Heisman Trophy. It really should be no surprise that Ewers is this well regarded for the prestigious award, a season after leading Texas to the College Football Playoff. Now, entering his third season as the starter, Ewers will look to take another leap forward.
There are going to be plenty of eyes on Texas in 2024. After all, it’s the Longhorns’ first season in the SEC. So, if Quinn Ewers can have a good season and lead Texas to a good first year in one of college football’s premier conferences, he’s bound to have a good chance to win the Heisman.
T-1. Georgia QB Carson Beck +750
Coming off his first season as the starting quarterback at Georgia, Carson Beck decided to return and take care of some unfinished business. With excellent odds, tying him with Ewers for the best in the country, that very well could include winning the Heisman Trophy in 2024.
Playing for the Bulldogs, it’s safe to say that Beck will get plenty of attention for leading a winning and talented team. That’s always helpful for postseason awards. It will also put Beck on a big stage consistently to showcase his talents.
3. Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel +1000
Dillon Gabriel is on his third college team, once again starting over at a top-tier school where he’s expected to start at quarterback for the Oregon Ducks. He previously started for UCF and Oklahoma. On top of that, he brings tons of experience with him, having already been a starter for five college seasons.
Since head coach Dan Lanning got to Oregon, he’s proved he’s capable of getting the most out of a transfer quarterback. He did it with Bo Nix. Now, he’ll try to with Gabriel as well. If Oregon does get that out of him, the Ducks will compete for the College Football Playoff and Gabriel will compete for the Heisman.
T-4. Ohio State QB Will Howard +1200
Another transfer, Will Howard was one of the most sought-after players from the Transfer Portal. In the end, he landed at Ohio State where he’s expected to replace Kyle McCord as the starting quarterback. There, he will also hope to compete for the Big Ten, Playoff, and the Heisman Trophy.
This offseason Ohio State has heavily used the Transfer Portal in the hopes of revamping the roster and getting back to the Playoff. As the Big Ten expands, the Buckeyes look poised to be one of the top teams in college football for the 2024 season.
T-4. Alabama QB Jalen Milroe +1200
At one point during the 2023 season, Jalen Milroe was benched by the Alabama coaching staff. By the end of the year, he was one of college football’s most dynamic quarterbacks and is looking like a potential Heisman Trophy candidate going into the 2024 season.
There was some concern that Milroe would leave Alabama. After Nick Saban retired, the Crimson Tide lost numerous key players to the Transfer Portal. That easily could have included Milroe, but for now, at least, he’s chosen to remain with Alabama for the 2024 season.
6. Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava +1500
Nico Iamaleava came to Tennessee as one of the most anticipated quarterback recruits in his class. Still, for the most part, he took 2023 off to practice and adjust to college football behind veteran starter Joe Milton. Eventually, he did get the chance to start the Citrus Bowl for Tennessee, impressing a lot of fans in a big win over Iowa.
There is a ton of excitement for Iamaleava in 2024. That much is obvious by his odds to win the Heisman Trophy next season. Now, the question is if he can live up to those expectations.
T-7. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier +1800
There are some similarities between Garrett Nussmeier and Nico Iamaleava. Both quarterbacks spent 2023 as backups to veteran starters and earned wins starting their respective bowl games. He also played well in his bowl, boosting expectations for the 2024 season.
It looks like Nussmeier is going to start for LSU in 2024. After taking a couple of seasons to prepare for the opportunity, you can be sure that he’s going to be ready to take advantage of the opportunity. Now, it’s a matter if he can repeat the success of Jayden Daniels in 2023, who ended the season by raising the Heisman Trophy himself.
T-7. Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold +1800
With Dillon Gabriel transferring to Oregon, the path has been paved for Jackson Arnold to take over as the starting quarterback at Oklahoma. A highly-touted recruit, Arnold has had a chance to develop behind Gabriel and has looked solid when he’s had the opportunity to prove himself during games.
Next season will be different, though. Moving into the SEC is going to make for a very difficult schedule week in and week out. There’s also going to be tons of pressure to live up to expectations now that he’s the Sooners’ starting quarterback.
T-7. Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart +1800
There were some questions about whether or not Jaxson Dart would return to Ole Miss in 2024, or if he would consider moving onto the NFL. In the end, Dart chose to stay at Ole Miss. With that, he’s facing massive expectations in what looks like it could be an incredible season for the program.
With the expanded College Football Playoff and head coach Lane Kiffin adding tons of talent through the Transfer Portal, much is expected of Ole Miss. That includes competing for the Playoff. A huge piece of that is going to come down to Jaxson Dart, who with all of that attention and in an explosive offense, could definitely compete for the Heisman Trophy.
T-10. Arizona QB Noah Fifita +2000
Arizona is going through a series of unexpected changes. Namely, head coach Jedd Fisch left the program for Washington. However, it looks like the Wildcats are going to be able to keep star quarterback Noah Fifita. It also looks like the Wildcats are going to compete for a Big 12 Championship next season.
There are a lot of questions that both Arizona and Fifita need to answer going into next season. That includes how the team handles the coaching and conference change. If things go well, Arizona could compete for a spot in the expanded Playoff and Fifita could make a run at the Heisman.
T-10. Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman
Another talented quarterback at a school going through a coaching change is Conner Weigman. After staying with Texas A&M through Jimbo Fisher‘s departure, the hope is that he’ll be able to take a step forward and help the Aggies compete for the SEC next season.
Through his first two seasons with Texas A&M, Weigman has flashed just how talented he’s capable of being. However, he’s only played nine games, with an injury derailing his sophomore season in 2023. If he stays healthy, Weigman showed he’s capable of being a great quarterback for Texas A&M.
T-10. Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard
Riley Leonard made the decision to transfer from Duke to Notre Dame at the end of the 2023 season. If he can put up big numbers and win with the Irish, there will be plenty of eyes on him and that could make Leonard a potential dark horse for the Heisman Trophy.
When he was at Duke, Riley Leonard proved to be one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC, oftentimes trying to play through injuries. It was on his back that the Blue Devils were able to find a ton of success for the past two seasons under Mike Elko.
T-10. Miami QB Cam Ward
Cam Ward was a star at Washington State. However, after the 2023 season, he wanted to test out his options. That included looking heavily into declaring for the NFL Draft before deciding to return to college and transfer to the Miami Hurricanes. There, he hopes to put up a great season and improve his draft stock.
If Ward is able to do that, he’ll likely also be able to compete for the Heisman Trophy. However, a key part of that is also going to come down to how much success the Hurricanes have in terms of wins and losses. Miami will need to improve there if Ward hopes to compete for the game’s most prestigious individual award.
Other Heisman Trophy odds
Florida State QB D.J. Uiagalelei +2500
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik +3000
Missouri QB Brady Cook +3000
Penn State QB Drew Allar +4000
Kansas QB Jalon Daniels +4000
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders +4000
USC QB Jayden Maiava +4000
Transfer QB Will Rogers +5000
Kansas State QB Avery Johnson +5000
Utah QB Cam Rising +5000
There is still plenty of time for these odds to change before the season begins and even more time for things to change once the season gets going. Players will rise and fall in the Heisman Trophy race, likely including a player that nobody expects to compete for it in the first place. For now, though, it’s a great look at where every player in the race stands.