The bronze statue of the Heisman Trophy, in its iconic pose with outstretched arms, has become one of the most recognizable symbols of all American sports, not only between students-athletes. To find out who will succeed Travis Hunter Jr., last year’s winner, in lifting the most desired cup in the college landscape, you can find out more on oddschecker, a comparison site that lists all the main favorites for this year’s victory. In the following paragraphs, we are going to point out the top five candidates in detail, letting you know who are the main contenders, a couple of months away from the beginning of the playoffs.
It’s a Heisman thing
The Heisman goes to the most valuable player in the NCAAF. It’s a trophy to crown leadership, characters, and obviously results. Usually it is awarded to one of the most celebrated players in the collegiate championship and whoever receives it is almost certain to go on to the NFL, after the draft in April.
Obviously, not all the Heisman winners become superstars between the pros (even if some of them do just that) but it may not matter at all to them. After all, these players already won the most important individual accolade in college football and gained the rights to take part in the Nissan Heisman-themed advertisement, the one famous for its payoff: “It’s a Heisman thing!”
Dante Moore: the #1 favourite
Dante Moore, the Oregon quarterback, is right now the top dog in Heisman odds. He became that after the Ducks won at Penn State, in double overtime, defeating the best team in college football. At least until that game. Moore, however, was responsible for some gaudy statistics even before Oregon’s biggest game of the regular season. On that fateful day, he simply cemented his candidacy, with a 248 yards and three touchdowns performance on the road, against a fantastic defense that is among the most dominant in the whole NCAAF.
Looking at Oregon’s remaining schedule, the Ducks will probably go 12-0 into the Big Ten Championship Game, potentially against defending national champion Ohio State. As things stand, they could win that game and make a very deep run in the playoffs. It means that Moore should remain one of the front-runners until the end.
Watch out for Carson Beck
Carson Beck, the Miami quarterback, is an experienced player playing for a major college football brand, so of course he’s going to have good leverage in the Heisman market. His current position in the table is a function of his good play, but also of Miami’s challenging September schedule. Early games against Florida and Notre Dame, both won, gave Beck a chance to stand out. The Hurricanes are a true national championship threat mainly because of their pass rush, but Beck’s steady hand at the center of the offense is leading them in a perfect campaign so far. And that matters a lot.
Jeremiah Smith
Jeremiah Smith, the Ohio State wide receiver, started slow this season, against Texas. But he’s since returned to form as one of the most consistent contributors on the Buckeyes’ offense, scoring at least one touchdown in each game since. He could easily finish the year with a gaudy statistical total that exceeds the 1,315 receiving yards he recorded in 2024. Will it be enough to win the Heisman? Doubtful. Sometimes, though, wide receivers did end up lifting the trophy, in the recent past.
Ty Simpson
Alabama is not the almighty team it was some years ago, but still, their QB has an actual path to the Heisman. Their win total keeps increasing while they navigate a tough SEC schedule, and maybe, in the end, Simpson could outplay his counterparts at Oregon and Miami. Should he lead Alabama back to greatness, with a 12-1 season and a SEC championship, voters will surely consider his name.
Fernando Mendoza
The Indiana quarterback jumped to the forefront of the Heisman conversation in Week 4, thanks to the Hoosiers’ utter demolition of Illinois. For a brief stint, after Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer broke a bone in his hand, Mendoza has been the Heisman favorite. Then reality struck. The QB has been good this year, for sure, but he hasn’t been a clear-cut Heisman favourite. He still isn’t, but he’s part of this conversation and this is already a good result for him.
The season is about halfway while we write this, so there is still time to completely change these standings. There are other big names that we didn’t consider and could compete with the ones we wrote down. At the moment, though, this is the top 5 lineup.
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