Heisman Trophy Predictions & Odds 2025: Two SEC Quarterbacks Atop the Odds

• Garrett Nussmeier and Arch Manning are tied atop the Heisman Trophy odds. 

• Jeremiah Smith is the highest non-quarterback on the Heisman Trophy odds at +1200 

• Julian Sayin is Ohio State’s new quarterback, replacing Will Howard who’s now in the NFL, and he’s +1300 to win the Heisman Trophy. 

The 2025-26 college football season is upon us, with Week 0 kicking off on Saturday, August 23. 

FanDuel Sportsbook has odds up for the 2025 Heisman race, and you can bet on it right now. 

Below, I’ll examine the latest Heisman Trophy odds, examine some predictions, make a pick, and fill you in on the history of the coveted award. 

Let’s dive in. 

Heisman Trophy Odds

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Create an account at FanDuel and claim the promo offer: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins. 

Rest of the candidates listed at +4000 odds or higher.

Heisman Trophy Predictions

The 2025-26 college football season is upon us and now is the best time to get the most value on all futures betting markets, including the Heisman Trophy. There are many players atop the odds that have received little-to-no playing time in their college career, leaving it to us to do a lot of projection. 

Below are three intriguing betting options:

• Arch Manning, QB, Texas Longhorns: In 2024-25, Manning saw some action as the starter while Quinn Ewers was injured. In those games, he displayed dual-threat ability. Of course, we must consider the competition he played, which included starts against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State, but still, the ability was there. The hype around the latest Manning signal-caller is massive. He’ll likely come away with the award if he lives up to it. 

• Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State: A true freshman in 2024-25, Smith was unstoppable. He caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. Now, he has former five-star quarterback Julian Sayin throwing him the ball. He’ll once again be a top target in this offense, which is without fellow top talent like Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson, and Quinshon Judkins. For Smith to win the Heisman, he’ll need a truly special season, which is certainly possible given his skill set. 

• Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State: If you’re looking for a bit of a dark horse, consider Leavitt. The world got to know Leavitt and Arizona State in the College Football Playoff when they nearly knocked off Texas. Leavitt possesses dual-threat ability, rushing for 443 yards and five touchdowns last season. He also had an excellent touchdown-to-interception ratio of 24:6. Last season, 16% of his attempts were 20+ yards downfield, with 591 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception. If he can boost his passing stats and continue to run well, he’ll be in the headlines. 

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Heisman Trophy Winner - My Pick

LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina (+1600) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Balancing upside with lucrative odds, Sellers sticks out to me as a great selection. At +1600, he’s tied for sixth in the odds. Last season, he showed that he was the best running quarterback in the country, perhaps even better than former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. However, he does need to improve as a passer. There were many games where the accuracy simply wasn’t there. He had 18 touchdown passes and seven interceptions, but added 674 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He’s only played in 15 college football games, and I expect him to get even better this season and be a favorite for the Heisman Trophy by season’s end. 

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How to Bet on the Heisman Trophy Odds

The only way to bet on the Heisman Trophy winner is to wager on the Heisman Trophy futures betting market. This is a prominent market that changes almost daily, especially when the season is in progress.

Additionally, you can wager on your favorite players for the Heisman Trophy every week with their player props. For example, if you wanted to bet on LaNorris Sellers, you could wager on his rushing yards. 

How to Read Heisman Trophy Odds

When reading odds for the Heisman Trophy, you’ll come across those labeled with a “+” and some with a “-.”

Typically, “+” indicates the underdog, whereas “-” indicates a favorite. If all players are “+,” then the player with the lowest number is considered the favorite. Conversely, if all players are “-,” the player with the highest number is considered the favorite. 

Here’s how to best interpret betting odds: 

• With “-” odds, you must wager the amount associated with the odds to win $100. For example, if a player is -150 to win the Heisman Trophy, you must wager $150 to win $100. 

• With “+” odds, you’ll win the amount associated with the odds when you place a successful $100 bet. For example, if a player is +150 and you bet $100 and win, you’ll get $150. 

Of course, you can wager more or less than $100, but those examples outline the best way to interpret these odds. 

Where to Bet on the Heisman Trophy Winner

While some states restrict college player props, the Heisman Trophy winner is a futures bet and a safe betting market. If you are interested in wagering on odds-on Heisman favorites through game-by-game player props, check out our sports betting map to see if sports betting, including on college football, is available in your state. 

Here are two sportsbooks I enjoy checking out when betting on the Heisman Trophy winner. 

• FanDuel Sportsbook: The welcome bonus is new player-friendly, and the odds are always competitive. The current promo offer for new users is quite generous, no promo code is required: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

• Caesars Sportsbook: Caesars offers various promotions throughout the college football season and routinely has odds boosts that can increase your winnings on markets such as college football. Use our promo code WSNDYW and claim the following promo offer at Caesars: Bet $1, Get 10 100% Profit Boost Tokens.

Heisman Trophy Winner History

The Heisman Trophy is voted on by more than 920 sports journalists, previous Heisman winners, and a fan vote. In 2024, there were 928 votes. So, each year, at least one new vote is added. The award is given to the most outstanding player in college football. 

Since 2000, quarterbacks have won it 20 times. Until 2024-25, a defensive player hadn’t won it since Charles Woodson did as a member of the Michigan Wolverines in 1997. Then, in 2024-25, Colorado Buffaloes cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter won it. 

This trophy is essentially the MVP award of the college football season. 

The first award was given to Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger in 1935. 

See all winners since 2010 below.