The 2025 College Football season is months away. However, the race for the Heisman Trophy is already heating up.
Below is an overview of the top 10 favorites and two longshot picks at their current odds for securing College Football’s most prestigious honor.
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Early 2025 Heisman Trophy Odds, Picks & Predictions
Favorites
Arch Manning (QB, Texas) | +700
Arch Manning is set to begin his first season as the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns. Coming from a storied football lineage, expectations are high. With a strong supporting cast and Texas projected to be a formidable team, Manning’s performance will be under the national spotlight. If he can lead the Longhorns to a successful season, his chances of clinching the 2025 Heisman Trophy are substantial.
Garrett Nussmeier (QB, LSU) | +900
As LSU’s starting quarterback and a top NFL draft prospect, Garrett Nussmeier has already showcased his talent with over 4,000 passing yards last season. His experience and leadership will be pivotal for LSU’s offense. A strong season with impressive statistics could position him as a leading Heisman candidate.
Drew Allar (QB, Penn State) | +1000
With a strong supporting cast, Drew Allar is returning, intent on leading Penn State in a bid to a national championship. His performance in high-stakes games will be crucial. Should he excel and guide the Nittany Lions to prominence, Allar could emerge as a serious Heisman Trophy contender.
Cade Klubnik (QB, Clemson) | +1400
Cade Klubnik returns with a robust group of wide receivers and has developed into a notable dual-threat quarterback. His ability to impact the game both through the air and on the ground makes him a dynamic player to watch. If Clemson contends for a national championship, Klubnik’s 2025 Heisman Trophy stock will rise accordingly.
At 14-1, Klubnik is the best value on the board. I can hear the snorts of derision now, but the growth in Klubnik in his third year was massive. He had a very good under-the-radar 2024 season. His odds offer great value for several reasons compared to some of the favorites:
Supporting Cast
Firstly, Klubnik has a strong supporting cast around him. Clemson boasts a talented group of wide receivers in Antonio Williams, T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr., giving him reliable targets to stretch the field.
Last season, Klubnik had an adjusted completion percentage of 73.7% with a big-time throw percentage of 5.4% with a healthy Antonio Williams. Fast forward to this year, Williams returns, and the 2027 duo of Moore and Wesco have a year of college ball under their belts.
Add in sophomore running back David Eziomume, and the Tigers have the firepower to put up big numbers on offense.
Dual-Threat
Klubnik’s dual-threat ability also makes him a dangerous playmaker. His improvement as a runner gives him an added dimension that Heisman voters often love, as recent winners like Lamar Jackson and Caleb Williams have shown.
In 2024, Klubnik posted a 36-6 touchdown touchdown-to-interception ratio, keeping his turnover-worthy plays down at 2.3% as he utilized his legs. His stats could be eye-catching if he racks up both passing and rushing touchdowns. Last season, he clocked 3,642 passing yards and had an impressive Pro Football Focus (PFF) 87.7 passing grade.
Increased exposure
Finally, Clemson should be one of the ACC’s strongest teams. They are early favorites for the conference title and should reach the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
Klubnik will likely have more nationally televised big-game moments. We got a glimpse of that last year, as viewers sat up and took notice as he carved up the Texas Longhorns like no other quarterback had done all season. If Clemson makes a deep run, he’ll have the stage to solidify his 2025 Heisman Trophy campaign.
At 10-1, Klubnik offers a great mix of talent, opportunity, and value. If he delivers on his potential, he could easily find himself in New York City in December, holding the hardware.
Julian Sayin (QB, Ohio State) | +1200
Next on the list is Ohio State’s assumed quarterback for next season, Julian Sayin. He has yet to secure the starting quarterback position at Ohio State, and given his limited experience, these odds may seem optimistic.
However, if he earns the starting role and Ohio State dominates as anticipated, Sayin could quickly become a prominent figure in the Heisman conversation.
Jeremiah Smith (WR, Ohio State) | +1600
Regarded as the best wide receiver in College Football, true sophomore Jeremiah Smith has the potential to make history. The last non-quarterback underclassman to win the Heisman Trophy was Alabama’s DeVonta Smith in 2020. For Smith to follow suit, he must deliver an extraordinary season, potentially surpassing 1,500 receiving yards and leading Ohio State to significant success.
Nico Iamaleava (QB, Tennessee) | +1800
After experiencing typical “growing pains” in his first year as a starter in 2024, Nico Iamaleava has the talent to elevate his game. If he can harness his potential and lead Tennessee to a successful season with an improvement in conference play, his 2025 Heisman Trophy prospects will improve significantly.
Carson Beck (QB, Miami) | +2000
Carson Beck is viewed as a bounce-back candidate following his transfer from Georgia to Miami. A resurgence in performance with the Hurricanes could bolster his candidacy, especially if he leads Miami to a strong season.
LaNorris Sellers (QB, South Carolina) | +2200
An exciting young dual-threat quarterback, LaNorris Sellers brings versatility to the field. His dynamic playmaking abilities could set him apart, particularly if South Carolina makes a notable impact this season.
Dante Moore (QB, Oregon) | +2500
Assumed to be the starter at Oregon, Dante Moore is at the helm of a College Football powerhouse. To justify Heisman consideration, he will need to produce impressive numbers and lead the Ducks to prominence in the national standings.
Longshots
Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame) | +60000
The last running back to win the Heisman was Alabama’s Derrick Henry in 2015. Ashton Jeanty had one hell of a 2024 season, but it wasn’t enough. What would need to happen for Jeremiyah Love to take home the title? For the junior to be considered, he would need to have an exceptional season, likely surpassing 2,000 rushing yards and leading Notre Dame to a top-tier finish.
Caleb Downs (DB, Ohio State) | +20000
Even as the best defensive back in College Football, Caleb Downs faces long odds of winning the 2025 Heisman Trophy. The last true defensive player to win the Heisman was Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997 (excluding Travis Hunter’s two-way heroics last year). For Downs to break this trend, he would need to deliver a season for the ages, possibly contributing significantly on special teams or offense, in addition to his defensive prowess.
Thanks for reading my Early 2025 Heisman Trophy Odds, Picks & Predictions. For more College Football Betting content, follow me on Twitter/X @PoshplaysFF.
*Photo Credit: Bob Donnan – USA TODAY Sports*
