Steve Starr
- USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye are the early Heisman Trophy favorites
- Quarterbacks have captured six of the last seven awards, as well as 11 of the past 13.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (+5000) is viewed a longshot to be named the most outstanding player in college football
Caleb Williams is expected to go No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft after capturing the Heisman in his sophomore season. But first, he’ll try to accomplish something no one else has in almost a half century – a Heisman repeat.
Can the Trojan star pull it off? Before we examine the early Heisman Trophy Betting Odds, be sure to check out our guide to betting on the 2023-24 NCAAF National Championship.
2023 Heisman Trophy Winner
| Player |  |
| Caleb Williams | +550 |
| Drake Maye | +600 |
| Jordan Travis | +800 |
| Michael Penix Jr. | +1200 |
| Sam Hartman | +1200 |
| Bo Nix | +1400 |
| Jayden Daniels | +2000 |
| Joe Milton | +2000 |
| Kyle McCord | +2000 |
| Cade Klubnik | +2200 |
| Drew Allar | +2500 |
| Quinn Ewers | +2500 |
| Brock Vandagriff | +2800 |
| Blake Corum | +3300 |
| Carson Beck | +4000 |
| Dillon Gabriel | +4000 |
| J.J. McCarthy | +4000 |
| Spencer Rattler | +4000 |
| Ty Simpson | +4000 |
| DJ Uiagalelei | +5000 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | +5000 |
Can Caleb do it again?
Caleb Williams (+550) is favored to win the Heisman Trophy for the second-consecutive year. The USC standout passed for 4,537 yards with 42 touchdowns and only five interceptions in 2022, adding 382 yards and ten scores on the ground. Given that Lincoln Riley has coached three Heisman winners in the past six years (Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray being the others), it’s hard to see why Williams couldn’t go back to back.
Well, other than a long historical precedent against it. Ohio State RB Archie Griffin is the only college football player ever to repeat, claiming the Heisman in the 1974 and ’75 seasons. Despite putting up big numbers in 2022, Alabama’s Bryce Young wasn’t even a finalist for the award last year. And, after becoming first ever sophomore to win the Heisman, Tim Tebow finished third and fifth in voting in subsequent seasons.
After an impressive season, Caleb Williams joined a long line of Trojans awarded the Heisman trophy.
Williams was instrumental in turning the @uscfb's record around this past fall, leading them to multiple victories throughout the season. 🏈 https://t.co/beQXvg0E35
— USC (@USC) February 4, 2023
Maye-day, Maye-day!
Drake Maye (+600) led North Carolina to its first ACC Coastal title since 2015, passing for 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven picks in 2022. The redshirt sophomore is not only a Heisman contender, but a challenger to go No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
However, the ACC Player of the Year will be playing under a new offensive coordinator next season. And, unlike the Trojans, the Tar Heels are unlikely to be in the mix for neither the College Football Playoff nor the National Championship.
Other top QB contenders
The next signal caller on the board is Jordan Travis (+800). The Seminoles senior set a new school record with 468 yards of total offense in a Cheez-It Bowl win over Oklahoma. He could become the first Florida State QB to win the Heisman since Jameis Winston a decade ago.
Michael Penix Jr. (+1200) led the Power Five in passing yards (4,354) while leading Washington to its best record (11-2) since 2016. Sam Hartman may have been the best QB in the transfer portal but Notre Dame’s new starter is overvalued at +1200. Even sixth-year senior Bo Nix (+1400) has a better shot at the award after reviving his career in Oregon.
In Drake Maye’s freshman year he:
🐏 Set ACC freshman single-season record for passing yards (4,321)
🐏 T-3rd in FBS with 38 passing TD
🐏 Received ACC POY, ROY & First Team honors
🐏 Led UNC to first ACC title game since 2015Future is bright for QB1 ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/ymmqe0Rvtj
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) December 29, 2022
Best Bets
Jayden Daniels (+2000) was also the only quarterback in college football to rush for more than 1,000 yards in 2022. The LSU senior is one of the few names on the list with a shot at competing for the National Championship in 2023-24.
Following in the footsteps of Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud, Kyle McCord (+2000) will be at the controls of Ryan Day’s high-powered Ohio State offense. Speaking of which, Marvin Harrison Jr. (+5000) is available at long odds despite being widely regarded as the best WR in college football. The Buckeye had 77 catches for 1,263 yards and 14 TDs in 2022.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
