Heisman Trophy odds updated ahead of Week 4 of college football
The Heisman Trophy picture is starting to get a bit clearer through the first three weeks of college football. Now, it’s Week 4, and the odds have been updated as conference play starts for a few teams.
Even though his team was off last week, USC star Caleb Williams remains the favorite to repeat as the Heisman winner, according to BetMGM. Williams is +350 to win the award as he looks to become the second-ever repeat winner of the award. He’s joined by another Pac-12 quarterback atop the board in Michael Penix Jr. out of Washington.
This week could be critical for players hoping to create separation from the rest of the pack, though. As the halfway point of September comes and goes, the Heisman Trophy race is sure to heat up.
Caleb Williams, QB, USC — +350
Through three games, Caleb Williams still hasn’t had to play all four quarters because USC has been so dominant. That’s likely to change this week as the Trojans kick off Pac-12 play against Arizona State after a bye week.
So far, Williams is tied for second in the FBS with 12 touchdowns while also adding 292.7 passing yards per game. Now that it’s time for conference play, he’ll try to improve his case to not only get back to New York, but also join Archie Griffin in elite Heisman company.
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington — +500
Michael Penix Jr. seems to be getting even better in his second year at Washington under Kalen DeBoer. Last week against Michigan State, he had a monster day with 473 yards and four touchdowns on an efficient 27 of 35 passing to lead the Huskies to a 41-7 blowout victory over the Spartans on the road.
Penix’s 12 touchdowns is tied with Williams for second in the country, but his 444 passing yards per game is now No. 1 in the nation. A conference matchup with Cal awaits this week and should present another opportunity for the former Indiana quarterback to improve his stock.
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas — +600
After a monster performance against Alabama, Quinn Ewers struggled for Texas last week against Wyoming. He completed 11 of 21 passes for just 131 yards, but threw for two touchdowns to help lead the Longhorns to the 31-10 victory.
Ewers’ rough day didn’t seem to have much of an impact on his Heisman Trophy odds, though. He’s still in early position to make a trip to New York, and he’ll get a chance to improve those odds on the primetime stage on Saturday against Baylor.
Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame — +900
The hope for Notre Dame was that Sam Hartman would come in and reinvigorate the offense. He’s done just that, helping lead the Fighting Irish to a perfect 4-0 season, including last week’s big win over Central Michigan.
Hartman now leads the nation with 13 touchdown passes while adding 265.3 yards per game without an interception. However, he’ll face far and away his biggest test of the year on Saturday when Ohio State comes to South Bend in a highly anticipated top-10 showdown under the lights.
Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State — +1100
It wasn’t easy, but Jordan Travis and Florida State escaped Boston College with a 31-29 victory last week. At one point, Travis left with an apparent injury, but returned to engineer a touchdown drive and get the Seminoles past the Eagles.
Travis completed 15 of 24 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns against BC, but did enough to help FSU get the win. Those numbers didn’t impact his Heisman Trophy odds entering a pivotal game this week against Clemson that could have ACC Championship implications.
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado — +1800
Through three quarters, it appeared Colorado State had Shedeur Sanders’ number and kept the Colorado quarterback at bay. Then, he showed why he’s a serious candidate for the Heisman, taking the reins to lead an impressive come-from-behind victory in double overtime in the wee hours of the night.
On the whole, Sanders threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns. But his most impressive moment of the night came when he led a 98-yard drive to tie the game and force overtime — proving his Heisman Trophy case and maintaining his impressive odds.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan — +2000
Despite throwing his first interceptions of the season against Bowling Green, J.J. McCarthy remains one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country. His 82.4% completion percentage (56 of 68) ranks second in the nation after an impressive start to the season.
McCarthy is now preparing to get his head coach back as Jim Harbaugh returns to the sidelines after a self-imposed three-game suspension. The timing lines up with the start of Big Ten play as Michigan takes on Rutgers this week, giving McCarthy even more opportunities to improve his Heisman Trophy odds.
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon — +2200
At +2200, some might consider Bo Nix a dark horse for the Heisman Trophy. As his Heisman campaign continues to roll out, he’s looking the part for Oregon after completing 21 of 27 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns against Hawaii.
Nix could’ve gone to the NFL last year, but instead opted to run it back at Oregon and help the Ducks compete for a Pac-12 title. They’re certainly in the conversation, and he’ll go up against another contender when Oregon faces Sanders and Colorado this week.
Other Heisman Trophy contenders ahead of Week 4
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU — +3000
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oklahoma — +3000
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State — +3500
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina — +3500
Drew Allar, QB, Penn State — +4000
Tyler Van Dyke, QB, Miami — +4000
Kyle McCord, QB, Ohio State — +5000
Carson Beck, QB, Georgia — +6000
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan — +6000
Week 4 features one of the most exciting college football slates yet, and it’s a unique opportunity for some of the Heisman Trophy contenders to improve their odds for the award. Some of them will also square off next week, meaning the board is sure to shake up some more as the season rolls along.