The final countdown to the Heisman Trophy ceremony is on. The ballots are open, and voters have until after “Championship Weekend” to choose who they believe has been the most outstanding player in the nation.
After a rollercoaster of a season, DraftKings Sportsbook now offers Heisman Trophy odds on just nine contenders, with Oregon quarterback Bo Nix (-165) and LSU dual-threat Jayden Daniels (+135) the clear favorites to receive the highest individual accolade in college football.
Latest 2023 Heisman Trophy Odds and Favorites
Latest Heisman Trophy odds and favorites as per DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023.
- Bo Nix, QB, Oregon -165
- Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU +135
- Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington +1600
- Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama +10000
- Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State +15000
- Carson Beck, QB, Georgia +15000
- Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State +20000
- Blake Corum, RB, Michigan +30000
- J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan +30000
Grab your favorite to win the Heisman with the best available odds below, if it’s legal in your state.
The Heisman Trophy Case for Bo Nix
Two years removed from being an outcast verging on college football laughing stock, Bo Nix is the Heisman Trophy odds favorite with arguably the most compelling case to be named the most outstanding player in the sport. He’s persevered against perception, worked hard at his craft, and has been outstanding in leading Oregon to the Pac-12 title game in 2023.
The fifth-year quarterback leads the nation in passing yards per game, total passing yards, and pass completion percentage, while leading the Ducks to the second-ranked scoring offense in the country.
While detractors will point to a lack of downfield pass attempts and a weak schedule, the Heisman Trophy isn’t the award for the strongest-armed quarterback in the country.
The Heisman Trophy Case for Jayden Daniels
The LSU quarterback is the ultimate case study for what a large amount of people consider to be the problem with the Heisman Trophy. While it is the greatest individual accolade in the sport, the recipient is so inextricably linked to overall team success that it isn’t always easy to separate and reward individual excellence when a team doesn’t enjoy a top-10 type of season.
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It could be argued that Daniels is enjoying a campaign akin to the 2016 season that saw Lamar Jackson overcome the Heisman Trophy odds to win the award when Louisville failed to make the ACC Championship Game.
No QB in the country has more passing touchdowns, yards per pass attempt, or 20+ yard passes while no one is as dangerous on the move as the LSU QB.
Can Michael Penix Jr. Overcome the Heisman Trophy Odds?
After lighting up the college football world early in the season, Michael Penix Jr. has fallen out of favor down the stretch and currently has the third-best Heisman Trophy odds of +1600 per DraftKings Sportsbook. In some respects, you can understand the fall from grace. Washington has scraped by in several games, and Penix has failed to average over 200 yards in the last two.
However, the former Indiana quarterback has placed the Huskies in playoff contention for the first time in almost 10 years, with his outstanding play a catalyst for Washington’s success.
There are few quarterbacks who, when they drop back, you 100% believe they will conjure up pure magic. That’s Penix’s case in a nutshell, that and his second-place status in almost all passing metrics.
Is Jalen Milroe the Real Dark Horse of the Heisman Trophy Odds?
If the Heisman Trophy is meant to reward hard work and perseverance in the face of adversity — which it is, it’s right there in the remit — alongside outstanding play, then few can argue with Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe’s candidacy for the award.
Doubted in pre-season, benched early in the season, he’s fought back to put the Crimson Tide in peak form at just the right time.
The hyper-athletic 6’2″, 220-pound dual-threat has put together a highlight reel of plays down the stretch of the season, showcasing his alluring arm talent and freak ground game dominance multiple times per week. Only Daniels has more yards per pass attempt than Milroe, while the Alabama QB has more rushing TDs than his LSU counterpart.
Guiding the Crimson Tide to a win over Georgia in the SEC Championship Game could well sway voters in the final hours. With Heisman Trophy odds of +10000, he’s the ultimate dark horse.
Ollie Gordon II Leads the Heisman Trophy Odds Amongst Non-Quarterbacks
Like the NFL MVP award, the Heisman Trophy has become more akin to a quarterback honor rather than truly recognizing the most outstanding player in college football. If ever there was a year to buck that trend and affirm the real meaning of the award, the 2023 college football season has provided a legitimate contender in Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II.
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There hasn’t been a single player more important to the success of their team this season than the second-year running back. Gordon has trampled almost every team in his path, putting up numbers akin to the last running back winner of the award, Derrick Henry. Arguably, Gordon is more important to the Big 12 Championship Game-bound Cowboys than Henry was to ‘Bama.
While Gordon has a great case for being the first running back to win the award since 2016, Marvin Harrison Jr. has set a similar standard at the wide receiver position. Even as part of a talented WR room at the Ohio State Buckeyes, he’s head and shoulders, night and day, better than any other player for that program. Without him, the Buckeyes wouldn’t be a close contender.
Rounding out the non-QB contenders, Michigan’s Blake Corum spurned the NFL after suffering a significant injury at the end of the 2022 season and has rebounded in typically outstanding fashion. Ahead of the Big Ten Championship Game, he has more rushing touchdowns than any other back in the country, frequently carrying the Wolverines offense on their unbeaten run.
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