Heisman Trophy odds updated ahead of Week 8 of college football

The Heisman Trophy odds updated after Week 7 of college football, and someone has finally separated from the rest of the pack. A pivotal week of action saw some major shifts in the odds, according to BetMGM.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is now the heavy favorite to win the Heisman, coming in at -145. He had a monster game against Oregon, including a possible Heisman moment when he led the Huskies down the field quickly and found Rome Odunze for the game-winning touchdown.

While Penix moved to the top of the board, reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams saw his odds fall to +3500 after a rough performance against Notre Dame on Saturday night. That’s just one part of the major shakeup ahead of Week 8.

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington — -145

Penix has put up monster numbers all season and went mano-a-mano against fellow Heisman contender Bo Nix last week in the rivalry matchup between Washington and Oregon. Both quarterbacks had strong showing, but it was Penix who came away with the 36-33 victory to greatly improve his chances of winning the trophy.

Penix threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns on 22 of 37 passing, but his biggest moment came when he led a two-play, 53-yard drive in just 33 seconds to win the game. As a result, he has a trip to New York for the Heisman ceremony in his sights.

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan — +1000

J.J. McCarthy continues his steady rise up the Heisman Trophy odds boards and is now one of two players at +1000. Jim Harbaugh has had plenty of high praise for the Michigan quarterback, and he now appears to be in contention to be a finalist.

McCarthy and the Michigan offense have rolled this year, winning every game by at least 24 points. A rivalry game awaits for the Wolverines this week against Michigan State before the bye week, and things pick up a bit in November.

Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oklahoma — +1000

Oklahoma was off last week, but Dillon Gabriel is still riding the wave after the Red River Rivalry win over Texas. His Heisman Trophy odds remain toward the top of the board as the Sooners begin the final sprint.

Gabriel leads the Big 12 with 313 passing yards per game and 16 touchdowns while adding 34.7 rushing yards per contest, as well. Oklahoma will now continues its quest toward a final Big 12 title out of the bye this week against UCF.

Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State — +1300

Florida State came away with another blowout victory last week over Syracuse, and Jordan Travis continues to look the part of a Heisman contender. He threw for 247 yards and a touchdown to lead the Seminoles to the 41-3 win to improve to 6-0 on the season.

Travis leads the ACC with 16 passing touchdowns this year while averaging 247 yards per game in the air. A big game awaits this week as FSU welcomes Duke for a primetime showdown with ACC Championship implications.

Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU — +1300

Jayden Daniels remains one of the top quarterbacks in the country and had another big day last week against Auburn. He threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns on an efficient 20 of 27 passing to help LSU to the resounding 48-18 victory.

Daniels leads the SEC with 327.7 passing yards per game and 22 touchdowns — eight more than Brady Cook, who’s second in the league with 14 passing touchdowns. Daniels’ Heisman Trophy odds have been on a steady climb this year as LSU prepares for a non-conference break this week against Army.

Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina — +1400

Drake Maye had another big day for North Carolina last week against Miami. The Tar Heels ran a balanced offensive attack, but Maye still threw for four touchdowns and 273 yards to help get the 41-31 victory.

Maye is widely viewed as the second-best quarterback in this year’s NFL Draft behind Caleb Williams, and his impressive year is adding to the hype. North Carolina is now 6-0 heading into this week’s matchup against Virginia, which could be another opportunity for Maye to have a big game.

Other Heisman Trophy contenders ahead of Week 8

Carson Beck, QB, Georgia — +3000
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia — +3000
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon — +3000
Caleb Williams, QB, USC — +3500
Blake Corum, QB, Michigan — +5000
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas — +5000
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado — +5000
Kyle McCord, QB, Ohio State — +5000
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama — +5000
Drew Allar, QB, Penn State — +6000
DJ Uiagalelei, QB, Oregon State — +6600
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State — +8000
Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame — +8000
Riley Leonard, QB, Duke — +8000

Through seven weeks, Penix has cemented himself as the Heisman Trophy favorite, but there are some other intriguing names behind him on the odds board. Nothing is decided yet, but the Heisman picture is starting to get a little clearer as the second half of the season picks up.