Early 2025 Heisman Trophy Odds, Predictions and Sleepers
After a season in which tradition took a back seat, the Heisman Trophy conversation must be shaped differently for the 2025 campaign.
Especially during the last couple of decades, players from outside the power conferences and defenders have rarely had much of an impact. Last season, however, Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter brought home the Heisman, with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty finishing a close second.
That result, without question, was an outlier.
Will we remember Hunter and Jeanty as the beginning of a trend, though? That answer will begin to arrive in 2025—and, hey, it might be a simple no. The list of preseason favorites is loaded with quarterbacks, as usual.
Yet a superstar like Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith is lurking, too.
This early preview of the upcoming Heisman race is largely subjective, though it includes the latest odds from DraftKings.
Latest Heisman Odds
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Arch Manning, QB, Texas: +700
Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU: +900
Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson: +1000
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State: +1200
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State: +1500
Drew Allar, QB, Penn State: +1600
LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina: +1800
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon: +2000
DJ Lagway, QB, Florida: +2000
Carson Beck, QB, Miami: +2200
Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia: +2800
Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State: +3000
Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama: +3000
Austin Simmons, QB, Ole Miss: +3500
John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma: +3500
For a complete list of current 2025 Heisman Trophy odds, visit DraftKings.
The Early Top 5
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Arch Manning, QB, Texas: The attention is understandable, but Arch Manning has to back up the hype. Still, although the Longhorns have retooled the supporting cast, there's no shortage of talent. Manning is entering a pretty ideal situation for his debut year as Texas' full-time starter.
Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU: Similarly, the Tigers have revamped their offense around Garrett Nussmeier. The additions of transfers Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barion Brown (Kentucky) to bolster a receiving corps that already returns top target Aaron Anderson is very intriguing.
Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson: Armed with one of the deepest pass-catching groups in the country, Clemson is built for Cade Klubnik to have a sensational year. He threw 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns to six interceptions last season and, in theory, should be even better in 2025.
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State: Jeremiah Smith played a key role in OSU's title-winning year as a true freshman. He reeled in 76 catches for 1,315 yards and totaled 16 touchdowns. Smith already being a household name is valuable, too.
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State: You know what helps your Heisman odds? Throwing passes to the best receiver in the country. However, the Buckeyes—who are expected to hand the reins to Julian Sayin—have 700-yard wideout Carnell Tate returning behind Smith and lots of top-recruited young talent.
Sleepers
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Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame: Part of me keeps questioning whether he counts as a sleeper, given Jeremiyah Love totaled 1,362 yards and 19 touchdowns for the national runner-up last season. However, he's barely a top-20 option in preseason odds. That's certainly not a front-runner. Notre Dame's offensive line should be excellent, and Love is best positioned to capitalize on that strength.
Blake Horvath, QB, Navy: Last year, Blake Horvath piled up 1,246 yards and 17 scores on the ground at the helm of Navy's option offense. He also threw for 1,353 yards and 13 touchdowns, guiding the Midshipmen to a 10-3 record. Between that production and a favorable 2025 slate, a sneaky rise is plausible. It's safe to say he would need a strong performance in a November win over Notre Dame to make his case a legitimate one, though.
Devon Dampier, QB, Utah: Behind what should be a tremendous offensive line, Devon Dampier's upside is exciting. The transfer from New Mexico scampered for 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns last year. If he improves as a passer—he had 12 scores to 12 interceptions in 2024—there's a path to contention.
Early Prediction
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Especially at this point of the offseason, you could make a compelling case for several players. You might feel strongly about Manning, Nussmeier or someone else, and that argument may be sturdy.
I keep coming back to Klubnik, though.
After a disappointing year in 2023, his efficiency jumped last season—even despite a few shaky outings in Clemson's most difficult games. More growth is realistic to anticipate in his third year running Garrett Riley's system, and a receiving corps stacked with veteran experience is a major appeal.
In addition, the schedule for the reigning ACC champs looks manageable. Clemson hosts LSU in the opener and SMU in October, while the likely toughest road games—Louisville and South Carolina—aren't until the final month.
Klubnik is a prime Heisman candidate because he's a veteran, dual-threat QB who shoulders a heavy production burden.
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