Heisman Trophy Odds: Betting favorites updated after finalists named

The 2024 Heisman Trophy race is officially down to four following Monday night’s reveal of the finalists to become the newest addition to the most notable fraternity in college sports. Of course, at least according to the latest odds released by DraftKings Sportsbook, it remains a two-horse race with one clear runaway frontrunner.

Based on DraftKings’ latest numbers, Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter remains the overwhelming favorite with -2000 odds to hoist the 45-pound bronze statue of John Heisman at the conclusion of the 90th annual Heisman Trophy ceremony on Saturday night.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who is just 132 yards shy of tying Barry Sanders‘ NCAA single-season record of 2,628 rushing yards set in 1988, has the second-best odds at +800, followed at a considerable distance by quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel of Oregon and Cam Ward of Miami at +35000 and +50000, respectively.

Check out DraftKings Sportsbook’s full Heisman Trophy odds below:

CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado: -2000

As has been the case for much of the last half of the season, Hunter remains the overwhelming favorite to crowned the college football’s newest Heisman Trophy winner on Saturday evening. That’s even after Hunter’s odds dropped from last week’s -6000 following Jeanty’s Friday night showcase vs. UNLV in the Mountain West championship game. Still, with many votes likely already cast before Championship Weekend, it’s Hunter’s award to lose at this point.

That’s because Colorado‘s sensational cornerback and receiver is the closest thing to a create-a-player in the game today, regularly flashing highlight-reel plays on both sides of the ball all season. Along with the Heisman, Hunter is a finalist for the Maxwell Award, given to college football’s overall player of the year, the Bednarik Award as the top defensive player, and the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver. On offense, Hunter ranks second nationally with 14 receiving touchdowns to go along with 1,152 yards on 92 receptions, while also recording four interceptions and 21 tackles defensively.

RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State: +800

While Hunter was sitting at home during Championship Weekend, Jeanty made one final case to Heisman Trophy voters when he eclipsed the 200-yard mark for the sixth time this season to help Boise State clinch a second-straight Mountain West Conference Championship on Friday night. With 209 rushing yards against UNLV, Jeanty currently has 2,497 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on 344 carries this season – leading the NCAA in all three categories.

As mentioned above, that effort put Jeanty within just 132 yards of tying Barry Sanders‘ historic standard set in 1988. And given Jeanty’s NCAA-best 192 rushing yards per game average this season, that mark is more than within reach in the Broncos’ next game: the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on New Year’s Eve vs. the winner between No. 6 seed Penn State and No. 11 seed SMU. Of course, by that point, the Heisman will have already been handed out.

QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon: +35000

Gabriel has been nothing short of electric in his first season in Eugene, expertly guiding the Ducks to an undefeated regular season and a Big Ten Conference championship in their inaugural campaign in the league. While not exactly lighting up the stat sheet, at least compared to his other Heisman-finalist QB, Gabriel’s efficiency can’t be overstated.

The Oregon quarterback currently ranks second nationally – behind only Colorado‘s Shedeur Sanders – with a 73.2 completion percentage, to go along with his 3,558 passing yards and 28-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season. Given the current odds, Gabriel remains more than a longshot to win the Heisman Trophy, but at least he’ll get a free trip to New York City out of it.

QB Cam Ward, Miami: +50000

Much like Gabriel, Ward is a former transfer QB that immediately elevated his new team, guiding the Hurricanes to nine straight wins to open the season before finishing the regular season 1-2 to fall out of College Football Playoff contention. And Ward was unquestionably the driving force, eclisping the 300-yard passing mark in 10 of Miami‘s 12 games while leading the ‘Canes to the nation’s No. 1-ranked offense (averaging 44.2 points and 538.3 yards per game) a year after barely cracking the Top 30 in 2023.

Following the conclusion of the regular season, Ward leads the NCAA with 36 passing touchdowns, one more than Sanders, and is second nationally with 4,123 yards on 293-of-435 passing (67.4-percent). Still, if DraftKings’ odds are any indication, Ward will be little more than a glorified spectator during Saturday night’s Heisman Trophy ceremony.