Will a non-quarterback win the Heisman?
Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet
Non-quarterbacks rarely win the Heisman Trophy. Twenty of the last 24 award recipients have been quarterbacks. Devonta Smith was the last position player to win in 2020. He was the first wide receiver to win since Desmond Howard in 1991. The last running back to earn the Heisman was Derrick Henry in 2015.
This could be one of the rare seasons a non-quarterback wins the prestigious honor. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is the betting favorite (+225), while Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter has the second-best odds.
Jeanty's run at the Heisman is so improbable that oddsmakers didn't consider posting him on the 72-player preseason market.
He then earned a 1% chance of winning the Heisman on oddsboards after rushing for 267 yards and six touchdowns in the opening week. His odds have continuously shortened from there:
| Week | Jeanty's Heisman odds | Implied prob. |
|---|---|---|
| Before Week 1 | N/A | N/A |
| After Week 1 | +7500 | 1% |
| After Week 2 | +2500 | 4% |
| After Week 4 | +2000 | 5% |
| After Week 5 | +1100 | 8% |
| After Week 6 (current odds) | +225 | 31% |
Jeanty's biggest jump came this past week after he rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns in a dominant win over Utah State. He also rushed for 259 yards and four touchdowns the week prior against Washington State.
The junior sensation catalyzes the nation's best scoring offense and third-best total offense. Jeanty leads the country in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. His stat lines are video game-like as he reaches rushing figures the sport hasn't seen in decades. He's totaled 1,031 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns with seven regular-season games remaining.
Jeanty could also get close to Barry Sanders' seemingly untouchable single-season rushing record. Sanders ran for 2,628 yards in 1988, but bowl game statistics weren't part of the record books. Jeanty is on pace to rush for 2,474 yards in the regular season. Henry ran for 2,219 yards when he won the Heisman in 2015.
Plus, Boise State has the inside track to qualify for the College Football Playoff. The No. 17-ranked Broncos could earn an automatic bid as the highest-ranked Group of Five team if they run the table and win the Mountain West title. They have no more ranked opponents on their schedule, and oddsmakers give them a 37% chance to make the CFP.
Jeanty has attracted 32% of the money wagered on the Heisman market over the last week, second to Hunter (39% of the money wagered). But the Heisman leaderboard shuffles weekly in a wide-open race.
Heisman Trophy odds on Oct. 8
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ashton Jeanty | +225 |
| Travis Hunter | +325 |
| Cameron Ward | +550 |
| Jalen Milroe | +1100 |
| Dillon Gabriel | +1600 |
| Cade Klubnik | +1800 |
| Quinn Ewers | +2000 |
| Jaxson Dart | +2500 |
| Carson Beck | +3000 |
| Jeremiah Smith | +4000 |
| Nico Iamaleava | +4000 |
Hunter has a unique Heisman pitch as a dominant receiver and cornerback. It's practically unheard of for players to play offense and defense, let alone thrive at both. Hunter's recorded at least 100 receiving yards in four of his five games and is in the top eight in receiving yards and touchdowns. He's also a shutdown corner.
Lackluster quarterback play has contributed to Hunter and Jeanty's rise. While they're both dazzling talents, certain quarterbacks with high expectations have failed to live up to the billing.
However, Miami quarterback Cam Ward has exceeded expectations. He opened the season with the 10th-best odds at +2500 but has sliced those to +550, the best odds among signals-callers to win the Heisman. Ward was even the favorite at +450 at one point after Week 4. The Washington State transfer leads the nation in passing yards and passing touchdowns. He's guided Miami to a 6-0 start, including a 17-point comeback win over California last Saturday.
Jalen Milroe was the Heisman favorite at +225 last week after Alabama defeated Georgia in a classic. Milroe's rushing ability and passing precision prompted discussions about his place among the nation's best quarterbacks. However, Alabama lost to Vanderbilt as more than a three-touchdown favorite Saturday, dropping Milroe's odds.
Dillon Gabriel sat atop the preseason Heisman board. Although Oregon is undefeated with a pending matchup against Ohio State, Gabriel's statistical output hasn't been noteworthy.
With Jeanty and Hunter making history, and without a quarterback emerging as the nation's best, it may be a unique season where a position player etches themself in Heisman lore.
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.