By Nicole Auerbach, Dan Santaromita, and Antonio Morales
USC quarterback Caleb Williams remains the favorite to win the 2023 Heisman Trophy through the first three weeks of the college football season, according to BetMGM. Here’s what you need to know:
Heisman odds (per BetMGM)
1. Caleb Williams (+450)
2. Jordan Travis (+950)
2. Michael Penix Jr. (+950)
4. Quinn Ewers (+1100)
5. J.J. McCarthy (+1500)
6. Bo Nix (+1900)
7. Drew Allar (+2100)
8. Shedeur Sanders (+2600)
8. Sam Hartman (+2600)
10. Joe Milton III (+3100)
10. Kyle McCord (+3100)
10. Marvin Harrison Jr. (+3100)
10. Dillon Gabriel (+3100)
14. Travis Hunter (+3600)
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
An exciting Heisman race ahead
They don’t hand out the Heisman in September, so I’m hesitant to overreact to early odds. But it’s clear that the race is shaping up to be far more interesting than any of us anticipated, say, three weeks ago. I would not have predicted any Colorado players to have actual decent odds — and there are two! And they’re walking highlight reels!
It’s always important to remember that the Heisman can be won or lost in high-profile matchups, when the eyes of the nation are upon these players. So, Hartman, McCord, and Harrison will have a big opportunity in South Bend on Sept. 23. Sanders and Hunter will get the spotlight against Oregon (and Nix) on Sept. 23 and then USC (and Williams) the following week. We’ve got a fun couple of weeks coming up, with both massive team and individual player implications. — Auerbach
Evaluating the odds through the first 3 weeks
Williams was the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy before the season and after three games, he is still the favorite with slightly shorter odds. The other contenders are starting to emerge with Jordan Travis and Michael Penix Jr. moving up a bit to be right after Williams in the odds.
The Colorado duo of Hunter and Sanders are the two most bet on players on BetMGM in terms of tickets, although Williams still has more money on him than anyone else. Hunter “only” had three catches for 73 yards yesterday against Nebraska. Playing nearly every snap and being a dynamic playmaker on both sides of the ball is incredibly impressive, but Hunter will have to put up monster numbers to be able to overcome how quarterback-dominant the Heisman has become. Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is the only other non-QB in the top 20 of the odds. Sanders, meanwhile, looks like a real contender, although it remains to be seen if Colorado will win enough for a serious Heisman campaign. — Santaromita
How has Williams looked during his repeat Heisman bid?
Caleb Williams hasn’t done anything to lose his spot as the Heisman front runner. He’s making the memorable, highlight-reel plays every week. And the numbers are impressive. Williams has thrown for 878 yards, 12 touchdowns, and no interceptions while completing 78.6 percent of his passes. Williams hasn’t been in the spotlight because two of his games have been on the Pac-12 network and USC hasn’t played any high-profile teams, but he’ll have plenty of prime-time opportunities over the rest of the season. — Morales
Required reading
(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)
As the college football season progresses, the race for the Heisman Trophy is heating up. USC quarterback Caleb Williams is currently leading the pack as the favorite to win the prestigious award. However, there are several other contenders who are making their presence known and could give Williams a run for his money.
According to BetMGM, Williams has odds of +450 to win the Heisman Trophy. This means that if you were to place a $100 bet on him and he wins, you would receive a payout of $450. Following closely behind Williams are Jordan Travis and Michael Penix Jr., both with odds of +950.
One of the biggest surprises in the Heisman race is the presence of two Colorado players, Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, who have odds of +3600 and +2600, respectively. This is a testament to their impressive performances on the field and their ability to capture the attention of bettors.
While Williams is currently the frontrunner, it’s important to note that the Heisman Trophy is not awarded in September. The race is far from over, and there are still plenty of opportunities for other players to make their case for the award.
High-profile matchups can often make or break a player’s Heisman campaign. Players like Sam Hartman, Kyle McCord, and Marvin Harrison Jr. will have a chance to shine in upcoming games against top-ranked teams. Similarly, Sanders and Hunter will have the opportunity to prove themselves against Oregon and USC, two teams with strong contenders in the Heisman race.
When evaluating the odds through the first three weeks of the season, it’s clear that Williams has lived up to the hype. He has thrown for an impressive 878 yards, 12 touchdowns, and has yet to throw an interception. His completion rate of 78.6 percent is also noteworthy.
However, it’s important to keep an eye on the performances of other players. Jordan Travis and Michael Penix Jr. have shown improvement and are closing in on Williams in the odds. Additionally, the Colorado duo of Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders have captured the attention of bettors with their standout performances.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how the Heisman race unfolds. Will Williams maintain his lead, or will another player emerge as a serious contender? Only time will tell.
In conclusion, the Heisman Trophy race is heating up, with Caleb Williams currently leading the pack. However, there are several other players who are making a case for themselves and could challenge Williams for the award. As the season progresses, it will be exciting to see how the race unfolds and which player ultimately takes home college football’s most prestigious individual honor.