Heisman Trophy odds 2022: Favorites, sleepers to win the Heisman

Nothing quite captures the imagination of college football fans like the Heisman Trophy. It’s arguably the most discussed individual award in all of American sports, so tracking the preseason favorites, rising contenders, and deep sleepers is as fun as anything throughout the season. Heading into 2022, several of college football’s biggest stars from the biggest schools, including last year’s winner Bryce Young from Alabama, sat atop the odds board, and barring injury, they should continue to be in the running all year.

Originally called the New York Downtown Athletic Club Trophy at its inception in 1935, the Heisman Trophy has seen some remarkable feats, including Army teammates Felix Blanchard and Glenn Davis becoming the only players from the same school to finish first and second in the voting (1945), Notre Dame QB Paul Horning being the only player to win the Heisman on a team with a sub-.500 record (1956), and Charlie Ward being the only Heisman winner to later play in the NBA (1993).

Additionally, Nebraska WR Johnny Rogers was the first wide receiver to win the award back in 1972, while Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson became the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman in 1997. Alabama LB Will Anderson (+4000) has an outside chance to join Woodson in that elite club this year. Ohio State RB Archie Griffin was the first player to win the Heisman twice (1974-75), something Young (+425) will look to replicate this year.

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Early on, running backs dominated the award, but in the past 20 years, it’s been almost all about the QBs. Quarterbacks have won 16 of the past 20 Heisman’s, including eight of the past 10. Three RBs (counting Reggie Bush, whose award was vacated) have won in that past 20 years, with only one WR claiming the award. 

Conference-wise over the past 20 years, the SEC leads the way with eight Heisman winners (including each of the past three), followed by the Big 12 (5), Pac-12 (4), ACC (2), and Big 10 (1).

It’s no surprise to see QBs occupying the top seven spots on odds bards heading into Week 4 of the 2022 season. Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud is the odds-on favorite at +275, per Caesars Sportsbook, but despite Stroud sitting atop the odds board, USC QB Caleb Williams (+350) and the aforementioned Young (+425) are close behind. After those three, there’s a bit of a drop-off to the next tier that includes Georgia QB Stetson Bennett (+1200), Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel (+1600), and Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy (+2200). There’s more than enough time for those QBs to gain ground with some memorable performances this season, but either way, it’s likely a QB is the best bet at any point in the season.

Here’s a look at the current Heisman Trophy odds for the 2022-23 college football season.

Heisman Trophy Odds 2022: Top 50 after Week 3

All odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook