2023 Heisman Trophy Winner: Predictions, Odds & Best Bets

• The Heisman Trophy was first awarded in 1935 to Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger

• Since 2000, a quarterback has won the award 19 times

• A defensive player hasn’t won the award since Charles Woodson in 1997. 

Each year, the Heisman Trophy is awarded to the “most outstanding” player in all of College Football. While some may argue this award has turned into a bit of a “best quarterback,” there have been other positions to win as recently as 2020 when then-Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith took home the award.

However, as we await the start of the 2023-24 season, you’ll find that the top nine players odds-wise, are all quarterbacks.

Here, we’ll look at some top odds and offer betting picks you should consider making.

Heisman Trophy Odds

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Click the odds below to place your bets at FanDuel.

The Heisman Trophy is considered a quarterback award. It makes sense for the 2023 season, and the 2024 award—the group of quarterbacks here and those that will enter the 2024 NFL Draft is loaded with talent. 

Below are our three best bets for the Heisman Trophy, which has, more or less, become a two-player race.  

Jayden Daniels, LSU (-110) at FanDuel

The LSU Tigers might be 8-3 this season after losses to Alabama, Ole Miss, and Florida State, but quarterback Jayden Daniels has been electric all year. 

In the passing game, he’s completing 71.4% of his passes for 3,576 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and just four interceptions. In the rushing game, he has 1,124 yards and ten touchdowns.

So, he has over 4,500 total yards and 46 touchdowns. Those are unfathomable numbers, especially playing in the SEC. 

His success hasn’t correlated to his team’s success, but in their losses, they allowed 45 to Florida State, 55 to Ole Miss, and 42 to Alabama. 

He’ll have a chance to solidify his campaign in Week 13 against the Texas A&M Aggies. 

Bo Nix, Oregon (+150) at FanDuel

Next, we have Bo Nix, who’s +150, and his Ducks have just one loss this season with a chance at the College Football Playoff. 

Nix has completed almost 78% of his passes for 3,485 yards and 35 touchdowns this season. He has just two interceptions. On the ground, he has 152 yards and five touchdowns. 

When it comes to him versus Daniels, will the voters choose a player with over 4,500 yards of offense, 46 touchdowns, and three losses or Nix, who has two fewer interceptions, six fewer touchdowns, a better completion percentage, and a team with a chance at making it to the College Football Playoff? 

If Nix wins the Pac-12 title, he should secure the Heisman. 

Michael Penix Jr., Washington (+600) at FanDuel

Penix Jr. was a long-time Heisman favorite, but he’s had a few down games. This season, he’s completing 66.6% of his passes for 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also has three rushing touchdowns but hardly any rushing yards. 

For Penix Jr. to pull this off, he’d need a poor game from Daniels, a loss in Week 13, and Nix and the Ducks to lose some games. 

It’s a tough path to Heisman victory for Penix Jr.

Past Heisman Winners

The Heisman Trophy has been awarded yearly for the most outstanding College Football player since 1935.

Below is a chart showcasing each winner since the turn of the century in 2000.