Heisman Trophy Odds: Biggest Risers, Fallers Animation Shows Crazy Movement

Written By Road to CFB | Last Updated October 11, 2024

The first half of the 2024 college football season delivered blockbuster instant classics and massive upsets, sometimes in consecutive weeks. With each monumental result, Heisman Trophy odds marched. This year, two non-quarterbacks lead the Week 7 board: Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Colorado two-way receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. Though there’s still a second half of the year to be played yet, could we see the first running back to win the award since 2015 or the first defensive player since 1997?

With surprising starts, both good and bad, which player’s odds moved the most?

Heisman Trophy Odds Movement: Weeks 1-6

Scroll to the bottom of this article to find the full list of current odds.

Biggest Risers In Heisman Trophy Odds

Boise State RB Aston Jeanty

Ashton Jeanty wasn’t an unknown commodity entering this season. But this level of production is unprecedented. Through five games, Jeanty rushed for 1,031 yards and 16 touchdowns – both more than Barry Sanders’ historic 1988 Heisman season through the same number of games. He leads the FBS with 755 yards after contact, just 11 yards short of Kaleb Johnson’s (the nation’s second-leading rusher) total output. Those 16 rushing touchdowns would tie for the third-most passing touchdowns in the country, as well. Should Boise State make the College Football Playoff (currently Boise State Broncos -250 on Bet365), Jeanty should get a seat in New York.

Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter

From one unicorn to another, Travis Hunter averages a ridiculous 132.4 snaps per game. Offensively, he sits eighth with 561 receiving yards–including over 100 in each of his first four games–and tied for fifth with six touchdowns. Defensively, Pro Football Focus grades Hunter the second-best coverage corner in the nation. Hunter nabbed two interceptions through five games and surrendered no touchdowns while in coverage. While the nation waits for Hunter to tire, he continues to be the game’s most effective two-way player since 1997 Heisman winner Charles Woodson.

Miami QB Cam Ward

Miami quarterback Cam Ward continues the trend of transfer QBs leading Heisman polls. Now third in odds (he was the favorite in Weeks 4 and 5), Ward leads the nation with 2,219 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. The Hurricanes are off to a 6-0 start with wins over Florida and Virginia Tech. Ward’s Heisman campaign lives and dies by Miami’s record. A loss or two, especially against a team like Georgia Tech or Syracuse, would derail things quickly.

Player	Week 7 Odds	Opening Odds
Ashton Jeanty, Boise State	+225	>500-1
Travis Hunter, Colorado	+320	+6500
Cam Ward, Miami	+450	+2200
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State	+2500	>500-1
Kurtis Rourke, Indiana	+5000	+30000

Biggest Fallers In Heisman Trophy Odds

Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard

After transferring from Duke to Notre Dame, Riley Leonard had high expectations. However, it took him four games to throw a single touchdown pass–a stretch that included a 66-7 blowout of Purdue where he threw none–and through five games, Leonard has just three touchdown passes. His Heisman campaign took a hit in Week 1 when Notre Dame beat Texas A&M without Leonard accounting for any scores and fully ended the following week when Northern Illinois shocked Notre Dame.

Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman

Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman spent some weeks hurt and, overall, hasn’t played very well. His campaign ended Week 1 when A&M lost to Notre Dame, and Weigman threw no touchdowns versus two picks. When playing this year, Weigman eclipsed 125 yards once (Week 6 against Missouri, 276 yards) and hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass against an FBS opponent.

USC QB Miller Moss

USC QB Miller Moss debuted with the Trojans in the Holiday Bowl last year. He erupted on the scene with six touchdowns in a 42-28 win over Louisville. But through five games, Moss has nine passing touchdowns and four picks. Most importantly, USC is just 3-2 with a Week 6 loss at Minnesota, a game that sent them out of the AP Top 25 and effectively ended Moss’ Heisman campaign before it really started.

Player	Week 7 Odds	Opening Odds
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame	+10000	+2000
Conner Weigman, Texas A&M	+40000	+2200
Miller Moss, USC	+25000	+4000
D.J. Uiagalelei, Florida State	+20000	+3000
Avery Johnson, Kansas State	+10000	+2500

Players To Watch In Heisman Trophy Odds

Player	Week 7 Odds	Remaining SoS
Carson Beck, QB, Georgia	+2500	3
Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska	+15000	6
Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU	+5000	8
Nico Iamaleava, QB, Tennessee	+3500	13
Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana	+5000	27

Remaining SoS based on ESPN’s FPI

With half a season to play, which players further down the Heisman odds board have a chance to rise?

Georgia QB Carson Beck

Of the potential risers, Beck leads consideration. Georgia’s lone loss on the year was at Alabama, likely a College Football Playoff inclusion. With Ole Miss and Tennessee left on the docket–plus a potential SEC Championship game–Beck has a chance to reclaim his preseason standing as a favorite. Over 900 people own a Heisman vote. Many of those are disconnected from the sport and vote for the quarterback of the No. 1 team in the nation. Beck could be that default selection.

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier

Nussmeier is also worthy of consideration. The opening weekend USC loss hasn’t aged particularly well, but the Tigers have resume-building opportunities against Alabama, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma left. Wins over any number of those would make the USC loss feel distant and excusable. Nussmeier has the eighth-most passing yards and fifth-most passing touchdowns so far, flying well under the radar.