Can reigning Heisman Trophy winner and USC quarterback Caleb Williams win the award again in 2023?
The betting odds are in his favor. Williams is the only player in college football with consensus odds shorter than 10-1 across major sportsbooks. Most places have him around 5-1.
History is not on his side. No player has been able to win the award more than once besides Archie Griffin in 1974-75. And since at least 2009, the only preseason favorite to win the award was Marcus Mariota in 2014, according to data from Sports Odds History.
However, while the odds have proven quite predictive on who not to choose, they haven’t been nearly as helpful in deciding who you should put money on. In the last eight years since Mariota’s win, only three other players even had top-10 odds. All we truly know is the winner will more than likely be a quarterback — 18 of 22 winners since 2000 have been QBs.
With that said, I’m predicting the winner will come from this group of eight players.
Odds via FanDuel
8
Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (+3000)
Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch
We saw DeVonta Smith win the Heisman as a receiver a couple years ago, catching for more than 1,800 yards and 23 touchdowns, and Harrison is more than capable of that type of production as the best receiver in college football — as long as his quarterback can get him the ball.
7
Michigan RB Blake Corum (+5000)
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
If there’s one running back I’d consider betting on it’s Corum, who had more than 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns before going down to injury last season. His quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, is also earning Heisman hype, but Jim Harbaugh’s style of football benefits the running backs more.
6
Texas QB Quinn Ewers (+1200)
AP Photo/Eric Gay
Expectations for success are returning to Texas, and if the Longhorns meet the moment, the former five-star recruit Ewers will get a great deal of credit for it. So, narrative is on his side, and for what it’s worth, the last two Heisman winners had the third-best preseason odds — which is where Ewers stands today.
5
North Carolina QB Drake Maye (+1800)
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
2022 ended in disappointment for Maye, who had an otherwise phenomenal year that ended with a 10th place finish in Heisman voting. Now, the sophomore has a chance to pick up where he left off, though he’ll have to do it without his top receivers from a year ago.
4
Florida State QB Jordan Travis (+1200)
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Travis was incredible a year ago, ending his season on a high note with a long completion to set up the game-winning field goal against Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl. He returns with plenty of momentum and a strong rushing attack that either helps or hurts his cause depending on the offensive balance.
3
LSU QB Jayden Daniels (+1000)
AP Photo/Michael Woods
Daniels is the consensus No. 2 favorite to win the Heisman after finishing last season with 17 passing touchdowns to just three interceptions and rushing for 885 yards with another 11 touchdowns. A leap in his senior year production will make sure he doesn’t fall out of the conversation.
2
Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. (+1600)
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Penix finished eighth in Heisman voting last season after throwing for more than 4,600 yards to go with 31 touchdowns in his first year in the Pac-12. For an encore, his offense may require even more from him with Washington’s top running back in the NFL but both 1,000-yard receivers back in the fold.
1
Oregon QB Bo Nix (+1800)
AP Photo/Denis Poroy
Nix took his game to another level in his first year with Oregon, completing 72 percent of his passes and combining for 43 touchdowns through the air and on the ground. The only thing that might hold him and Oregon back this year is the team’s defense. But hey, if they have to outscore everyone by airing it out, that can help Nix too.
