Each week this college football season, BetFTW will take a look at the 2024 Heisman Trophy race and break down the contenders. Check back every week as the best college football players in the country jockey for position with both oddsmakers and bettors. All odds via BetMGM.
Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4
Congratulations to Cam Ward! He survived as the favorite longer than Quinn Ewers did after Week 3 and, more notably, avoided falling victim to a trap game against South Florida.
Miami’s offense carved up the Bulls with Ward going off for 404 yards and three touchdowns passing on one interception. Ward had another 43 yards on the ground. South Florida provided a certain kind of test and Ward aced it. So, naturally, he’s hanging onto outright favorite status atop the BetMGM odds.
But a clear pack of contenders is emerging behind him. And it’s time to start taking a few a bit more seriously. Here’s the latest Top 10 before Week 5 kicks off.
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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A lackluster performance in an even bigger letdown at the Big House didn’t hurt Moss’ campaign as much as it could’ve. USC arrived at Michigan fresh off a bye week only to watch Moss complete just 28 of 51 pass attempts in a 27-24 loss. It certainly helps that he also accounted for three touchdowns with the passes he did complete, but Moss has some work to do at home on Saturday against a Wisconsin team that just took a beating from another Heisman contender in Jalen Milroe.
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We’re still in the “too soon to tell” phase of Howard’s campaign. Much like Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart (more on him later), Ohio State simply hasn’t played a remotely challenging opponent yet, so we can only judge the Buckeyes’ QB based on what he’s doing to inferior opponents.
So far, Howard padding his stats at a decent, but not excellent pace. In Week 4 against Marshall, he only threw the attempted 20 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. It was mostly fine and explains why he’s still in the Heisman race despite any signature moments yet. Ohio State opens Big Ten play at Michigan State on Saturday and he’ll need a big performance to stay in the Top 10.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News-USA TODAY Sports
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No change for Jeanty this week, which makes sense considering there’s not much voters can learn about him against Portland State. The stunning tailback did carry the ball 11 times for 127 yards in the 56-14 victory, but amazingly it was the first time all season he did not reach the end zone.
Even more amazing is the fact Jeanty still tied for second among all FBS players in rushing touchdowns with nine.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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The Travis Hunter Heisman campaign may not need to rely on Colorado’s overall success after all.
At this point in the season, what Hunter is doing on the field by playing both sides of the ball while barely missing any snaps is so impressive on it’s own that he deserves to be in the conversation. But his impact on both sides of the field is why his chances of winning are no joke.
Colorado is 3-1 but that record would be a much less appealing 2-2 if Hunter hadn’t singlehandedly, and literally, knocked loose a victory from Baylor’s hands last week.
Voters tend to hold quarterbacks to a much higher standard when it comes to Heisman voting, but Hunter may be deserving of his own unique standard, too. Even without as much control over the wins and losses as a quarterback, Hunter is the most impressive force on the field at all times. Until that’s no longer the case, he has to be considered a favorite — even if the Buffaloes don’t continue stacking wins. His odds certainly reflect that notion.
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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Last week we discussed the fact no Heisman winner since 2000 has played in fewer than 12 games. Ewers will miss that mark after sitting out Week 4 against UL-Monroe, but his odds are now shorter than Arch Manning (+5000) once again. If Ewers is healthy enough to play against Mississippi State, he should tear the Bulldogs apart and put himself back up for discussion. Texas’ remaining strength of schedule can make up for whatever voters may dock Ewers for not playing 12 games.
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This is why it’s so hard for the preseason favorite to win the award. The expectations are so outrageous that any game that doesn’t look perfect will end up hurting you. In Gabriel’s case, the Ducks’ sluggish (yet undefeated) start may have clouded what he can actually do. So far, that’s putting up 914 yards passing with six touchdowns and no picks in three games while adding two more scores rushing.
A Week 5 matchup against a UCLA team that isn’t built for a shootout is just what Gabriel’s campaign needs coming off a bye.
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Don’t pay attention to the slight drop in his odds after beating Oklahoma in primetime. Someone had to scoot back a bit in order for there to be separation at the top of the odds. Iamaleava is a star and he’ll be in the Heisman conversation for a few more seasons regardless of what happens this year.
Now, about that OU game: 194 yards and one touchdown passing might not stand out on the surface, but this is the type of game Tennessee typically does not win. A ranked matchup against an extremely boistrous program in Oklahoma is no one’s idea of a good time. Iamaleava held his own, made smart plays and pulled off a signature win on the road. That’s what matters here.
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This one is simple. If Milroe’s Crimson Tide defeats Georgia on Saturday, he’ll be the new outright favorite. That’s no slight to Cam Ward, but Milroe is putting together a truly solid resume. In three games, the QB has passed for 590 yards and eight touchdowns with another 156 yards and six scores on the ground. Each Alabama game has been a blowout so far in this 3-0 start. The Georgia game likely won’t be. So if Milroe remains at his best — against the SEC’s best defense — he’ll have a better signature moment of any Heisman contender yet.
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Odds Last Week (Opening Odds)
Much like Will Howard, the Ole Miss QB just hasn’t been challenged yet. He has, however, made absolute mincemeat of everyone who has tried. Through four games, Dart’s 1,554 passing yards lead all the FBS and his 12 passing touchdowns are tied for fourth. That’s nice and all, but the Rebels need a real game soon to validate it.
Week 5 against Kentucky probably won’t be much of a problem, which means Dart’s first real test won’t be until late October when the Rebels go on the road in back-to-back games at South Carolina and LSU.
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Odds Last Week (Opening Odds)
The Hurricanes face Virginia Tech on Friday night after avoiding the USF trap last week. If no ACC chaos ensues, Ward can further solidify his position on the board. But, uh, we cannot recommend betting against ACC chaos under any circumstances.
