After another chaotic week of college football, the Heisman odds have shifted significantly. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith remains the favorite, but the gap to Miami quarterback Darian Mensah is narrowing. Mensah's top target, receiver Malachi Toney, is also a serious Heisman contender.
Everyone else is a long shot, with Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker’s odds dropping from last week despite his four-touchdown performance. BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier has completely dropped out of the conversation after the Cougars' loss to UCF.
Below are the 12 players with the best Heisman Trophy betting odds entering Week 9 via BetMGM:
QB Keelon Russell, Alabama
Current Odds: +10000
After Alabama's back-to-back losses, Russell dropped out of Heisman contention. But
with his three-touchdown performance in the win over Texas A&M, he can at least be considered a finalist. Russell has the sixth-highest quarterback rating in the FBS and is top-15 in passing yards, so he is certainly one of the best quarterbacks in college football right now.
QB Jayden Maiava, USC
Current Odds: +10000
Maiava has no chance of winning the Heisman, especially after the Trojans' loss to Wisconsin. He finished the game with just 5.2 yards per attempt and two interceptions, which the Badgers turned into three points. Perhaps he could be a real contender next year if he decides to stay in college for a final season.
QB Braden Atkinson, Oregon State
Current Odds: +10000
Having a receiver who is also a Heisman contender certainly boosts your profile, but Atkinson is still a very good quarterback in his own right. Oregon State had a bye last week, but he still leads the FBS in passing yards and passing touchdowns and has thrown only two interceptions. If he were playing at a Power Four school, he would be a Heisman finalist, if not the winner. If he entered the transfer portal after this season, almost every team would be after him.
QB Sam Leavitt, LSU
Current Odds: +8000
He started the season slowly with three touchdowns and five interceptions in the first three games. However, he is playing much better lately, with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in the last two games. He won't win the Heisman, but he could next year if he returns for a final season with the Tigers.
QB Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
Current Odds: +8000
Mestemaker was the talk of the transfer portal last offseason. From North Texas, he was known as a gunslinger who put up a lot of passing yards and touchdowns. So far, that is translating to Power Four football. He threw for nearly 400 passing yards and four touchdowns last week against Colorado without an interception. If he enters the portal again, Big Ten and SEC teams will vie for him. But if he stays with Oklahoma State, he could help them return to the Big 12 Championship for the first time since 2023.
QB Gunner Stockton, Georgia
Current Odds: +6600
Georgia sits at 6-1 after their loss to Auburn and a bye week. Stockton doesn't have the most impressive individual stats, with only 1,570 passing yards through seven games, though he is top-20 in the FBS in passing touchdowns. He will not win the Heisman or be a finalist, but he could win the title.
QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
Current Odds: +2000
Just when you think Ole Miss is a National Championship contender, they lose. Chambliss' three interceptions did not help, even though Texas never scored on any of them. Still, there is no denying how talented a player he is. Given this is his last year of eligibility, it will be interesting to see how NFL scouts evaluate him for the draft. Having "Heisman finalist" on his resume would not hurt, and that is certainly possible with how he is playing.
WR Jesse Legree, Oregon State
Current Odds: +2000
With all the talk about Jeremiah Smith and Malachi Toney, it is crazy to think the best wide receiver in college football might be in the rebuilt Pac-12. Jesse Legree leads the FBS in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns despite only having 46 receptions. His 22.6 yards per reception is third in the FBS. If he continues this pace for the rest of the year, he could seriously challenge Smith, Mensah and Toney for the Heisman.
QB CJ Carr, Notre Dame
Current Odds: +2000
I still cannot see CJ Carr winning the Heisman. Carr is an above-average quarterback, but he is not elite. His numbers aren't as good as Mensah's, and he doesn't show the same athleticism as other players in the Heisman conversation. He may be a finalist, but I don't think he deserves to be.
WR Malachi Toney, Miami
Current Odds: +350
After having 16 receptions for 194 yards and three touchdowns in Miami's win against Pittsburgh, it is easy to see why Malachi Toney is a true Heisman contender. The crazy thing is, this wasn't even his best game of the season. He is top-three in receptions, yards and touchdowns after the first eight weeks of the season. It would not be a surprise to see him win the Heisman.
QB Darian Mensah, Miami
Current Odds: +300
Toney couldn't put up these numbers without his talented quarterback, Darian Mensah, who is top-10 in the FBS in passing yards and touchdowns, has the best quarterback rating, and has only one interception. It is hard to beat Mensah's numbers right now. This will be a tight Heisman race, especially between him and Toney.
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Current Odds: +110
Jeremiah Smith's biggest challenge is the quarterback situation. Ohio State was on bye last week, so it's unclear how the Buckeyes' offense, and Smith specifically, will play without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, who was considered a Heisman contender before his injury. Smith still has something to lose, but Miami's quarterback-receiver duo is making ground.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Heisman Trophy odds, top contenders entering Week 9
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