The College Football Playoff isn’t even over, and FanDuel already unveiled its list of 2026 Heisman Trophy odds, headlined by a familiar face.
Key Takeaways
-
Manning was a +600 favorite to win the Heisman last summer.
-
Indiana transfer QB, Josh Hoover, will take over for the last Heisman winner.
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Miami receiver Malachi Toney is the only non-QB in the top 20 in Heisman odds.
|
Player |
Odds |
|---|---|
|
Arch Manning |
+800 |
|
CJ Carr |
+800 |
|
Jeremiah Smith Jr. |
+1,000 |
|
Julian Sayin |
+1,000 |
|
Gunner Stockton |
+1,300 |
|
Josh Hoover |
+1,300 |
|
Sam Leavitt |
+1,300 |
|
Marcel Reed |
+1,600 |
|
Jayden Maiava |
+1,700 |
|
Dylan Raiola |
+1,700 |
|
Brendan Sorsby |
+2,000 |
|
LaNorris Sellers |
+2,500 |
|
Malachi Toney |
+2,500 |
|
Demond Williams Jr. |
+3,000 |
|
Bryce Underwood |
+3,000 |
|
Devon Dampier |
+3,500 |
|
Byrum Brown |
+3,500 |
|
Kevin Jennings |
+4,500 |
Manning opened last year as a +600 favorite, ahead of his closest competitors, Cade Klubnik (Clemson) and Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), who were both +900.
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The oddsmakers still have confidence in Manning despite his falling short this past year. However, the +800 odds indicate he’s 3.2% less likely to win the Heisman this time around than he was last preseason.
That change is due to the perceived increase in competition. Carr capped off an impressive freshman season for Notre Dame with 2,741 yards, 27 total touchdowns, and six interceptions while ranking eighth in the nation in QBR.
Ohio State teammates and rising juniors Jeremiah Smith Jr. and Julian Sayin are next in line. The latter was invited to the recent Heisman ceremony, while the former was one of the public’s favorite picks to win the award.
Sayin’s final 2025 stat line reads: 3,610 yards, 32 TDs, and 8 INTs, with a nation-leading 77% completion rate. He was also third in QBR.
Smith had 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns.
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Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton rounds out the top five as he prepares for his senior season. He finished last season with 2,894 passing and 462 rushing yards, 34 total touchdowns, and five interceptions, and he was ranked sixth in QBR.
Outside candidates, dark horses
If this year was any indication, there’s one player not even in the top five for Heisman odds who has extraordinary value.
Josh Hoover, a former TCU quarterback, will be making his way to Bloomington, Indiana, later this year to suit up for the Hoosiers. All signs point toward Indiana continuing its skyward trajectory, turning from a disastrous institution to one that went 26-2 over the last two years, won its first Big Ten conference championship since 1967, and is a 7.5-point favorite in the national championship game.
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One of the benefactors of Indiana’s success this season was quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who became the first player in school history to win the Heisman. That’s despite opening the year at +5,000, behind 17 other players.
Indiana’s relentless winning should produce outstanding numbers for its quarterback, regardless of who it is. However, Hoover isn’t just another warm body.
The 6-foot-2 junior threw for 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions at TCU. He’s an experienced three-year starter and has lots of arm talent, and he will greatly benefit from a team as talented and well-coached as Indiana.
A couple of transfer quarterbacks, including LSU’s Sam Leavitt (+1,300), Oregon’s Dylan Raiola (+1,700), and Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby (+2,000) also stand out as intriguing options.
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Miami receiver Malachi Toney (+2,500) is the only non-quarterback in the top 20. He racked up 99 receptions, 1,089 yards, and nine touchdowns alongside 113 rushing yards and a rushing score, and two passing TDs.
Who will win 2026 Heisman?
As college football becomes increasingly short term and cyclical, evaluating players’ positions is arguably more important than judging talent.
Three of the last four Heisman winners transferred during the prior offseason. Additionally, eight of the last 10 winners played quarterback.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
