Where Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard ranks in Heisman Trophy odds
On Monday, one day after unveiling their Week 0 and Week 1 lines, Circa Sports released their Heisman Trophy odds. They gave Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard the 11th-best odds to take home the most coveted award in college football.
Leonard’s odds are +2000, tied with Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson. Oregon signal-caller Dillon Gabriel has the best odds at +700. Gabriel transferred from Oklahoma.
The Fighting Irish are tied with Southern Cal, Ohio State and Oklahoma for the most Heisman Trophy winners with seven. Wide receiver Tim Brown was the last one in 1987. In addition to Brown, Angelo Bertelli (1943), John Lujack (1947), Leon Hart (1949), John Lattner (1953), Paul Hornung (1956) and John Huarte (1964) also won it.
Although it’s been 36 years since Notre Dame has had a Heisman Trophy winner, its offensive coordinator, Mike Denbrock, orchestrated the offense of last year’s winner: LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.
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Under Denbrock’s direction, LSU had the nation’s No. 1 offense, averaging 543.5 yards and 45.5 points per game. Daniels accounted for 4,946 yards (3,812 passing, 1,134 rushing) and 50 touchdowns (40 passing, 10 rushing) in 12 games.
The Washington Commanders selected Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Before Leonard had an injury-riddled campaign at Duke in 2023, he flashed the potential oddsmakers see to become a potential Heisman Trophy winner. In 2022, he completed 250-392 passes for 2,967 yards and 20 touchdowns. He added 699 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.
Leonard transferred to Notre Dame this offseason.
Leonard will have a chance to kick off his Heisman campaign with a strong showing against Texas A&M on Aug. 31. In Week 1 in College Station, he is facing his former head coach at Duke, Mike Elko. The Aggies are currently a 2.5-point favorite.
2024 Heisman Trophy Odds
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel (+700)
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (+900)
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (+1000)
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (+1300)
Miami quarterback Cam Ward (+1400)
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxon Dart (+1500)
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (+1500)
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard (+1500)
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (+2000)
Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson (+2500)
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (+2500)
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders (+2500)
Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (+3500)
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (+3500)
Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold (+3500)
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels (+3500)
