By Emilee White Editorial Director
Updated 8/29/23 11:10am ET
The betting market favors college football history to occur this season but the past decade suggests challengers and longshots are very much in the mix.
USC star quarterback, Caleb Williams, enters the season as a +450 favorite to repeat. Ohio State standout running back, Archie Griffin, is the only multiple winner, accomplishing the feat in 1974 and 1975.
On this season’s opening day, Williams racked up four touchdown passes for the sixth-ranked Trojans in a 28-point blowout of San Jose State, including a play that made virtually all highlights shows. Williams dropped the shotgun snap and then gathered himself for a 76-yard TD pass.
According to SportsOddsHistory.com, the last preseason betting favorite to win the award is Oregon QB Marcus Mariota in 2014.
Longshots have actually cashed somewhat regularly in recent years, as every winner between 2015 and 2020 entered the regular season with double- or triple-digit odds. Alabama’s DeVonta Smith (100 to 1), LSU’s Joe Burrow (40 to 1), Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray (30 to 1) and Baker Mayfield (10 to 1), Louisville’s Lamar Jackson (100 to 1) and Bama’s Derrick Henry (25 to 1) all rewarded backers with solid payouts.
Williams is also a -500 betting favorite at DraftKings to be the top overall draft pick, although the true junior has not declared. However, it’s worth noting that eventual top pick Trevor Lawrence of Clemson never won the Heisman, despite entering the 2019 and 2020 seasons as a co-favorite.
In his first season since transferring from Oklahoma to join head coach Lincoln Riley at USC, Williams accumulated 57 total touchdowns with only four interceptions. He also posted 4,075 yards on 66.1% passing and 372 rushing yards. USC fell short of the CFB Playoff after losing to Utah in the PAC-12 championship game.
The last time we saw a top NFL quarterback prospect return to school was Matt Leinart. The former Trojan had already won the Heisman and finished in third the following season.
Other Heisman Odds:
- Jayden Daniels (LSU): +1100
- Sam Hartman (Notre Dame): +1400
- Cade Klubnik (Clemson): +1400
- Jordan Travis (Florida State): +1400
- Quinn Ewers (Texas): +1500
*Odds Courtesy of DraftKings
Photo credit: Shutterstock
