The 2025 Heisman Trophy odds have been set for some time, and the race looks to be wide open and unpredictable heading into the season. Last year, we saw the two-way star Travis Hunter take home the award as just the second non-quarterback since 2015. Will that happen again, or will the award revert to a signal caller? Below, we’ll highlight favorites, as well as identify a couple of long shots that could be worth consideration.
Arch Manning, Texas (+600)
Manning has been making headlines even before he ever stepped on the field for the Texas Longhorns. He was electric in the handful of games he started last season, though two of those were against UTSA and ULM. Texas has a loaded roster and lofty expectations, as evidenced by its preseason No. 1 ranking. The Longhorns can win the championship without Manning being a Heisman-level player. Since 2009, only one player (Marcus Mariota) has won the Heisman entering the season as a top-two favorite.
Cade Klubnik/Garrett Nussmeier, Clemson/LSU (+900)
Tied for that top-two position at +900 are Cade Klubnik and Garrett Nussmeier. Both players are veteran starters for their team and will face off in Week 1, so the odds will likely shift toward one of them following the matchup. Both players will also be looking to put together a case to go No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. If Klubnik can defeat LSU in Week 1 and manage to finish the regular season undefeated while maintaining his impressive stat line from a season ago, he could very well hear his name called in New York by the committee.
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina (+1600)
Sellers is arguably the most trendy pick on the oddsboard, and perhaps for good reason. At 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, Sellers moves as well as any quarterback in college football. Todd McShay, on his podcast, believes he moves similarly to or better than Jalen Hurts and has a cannon of an arm. South Carolina isn’t at the level of a blue blood program like the players we’ve listed to this point, but don’t be surprised if his name creeps up the odds board throughout the season.
Drew Allar, Penn State (+1800)
Allar has continued to get better every season under James Franklin. Though his No. 1 option in the pass game, Tyler Warren, is now with the Indianapolis Colts. The team expects Franklin to help lead Penn State to a deep run in the College Football Playoff. The team around him is good enough to do precisely that. If they’re atop the Big Ten, he could be a finalist in New York.
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame (+3500)
Love comes off an incredible 2024 campaign in which he helped the Fighting Irish reach the National Championship game for the first time since 2012. The sky is the limit for Love, who rushed for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. Except this season, he doesn’t have a quarterback like Riley Leonard, who finished with 17 rushing touchdowns of his own. While it’s unrealistic to think Love will double his touchdown output, cracking 20 or even 25 touchdowns isn’t crazy to think. However, a running back hasn’t won the award since Derrick Henry in 2015.
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State (+1200)
Smith might be the most talented player in college football. As a freshman, he tallied 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns on 76 receptions and was an integral part of the Buckeyes winning the national championship. He’ll look to replicate those numbers this season with Julian Sayin, a former five-star recruit in his own right. If the Buckeyes are going to compete for a second-straight championship, it starts with Smith.
Recommended Pick: LaNorris Sellers +1600