Each week this college football season, BetFTW will be taking a look at the 2023 Heisman Trophy race and analyzing the contenders. Check back each week as the best college football players in the country battle it out with bookies and bettors for position. All odds via BetMGM.

We’re going to try something new this season and track these odds later in the week, rather than earlier. Normally, this analysis would be done on Tuesdays, but now we’re switching to Thursday and Friday (depending on the schedule) to see how the odds perform after the money is deposited during the week.

One thing we certainly didn’t have to wait for this week was the fate of Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. After opening the season with +3000 odds to win the Heisman Trophy, the Oregon State transfer has fallen to the very bottom of the rankings (+25000) after FSU’s 0-2 start.

Don’t buy when prices are low.

Uiagalelei’s fall – coupled with some outstanding performances in Week 1 – has thrown the odds of making the top 10 into disarray. Let’s take a closer look.

10. Kansas QB Jalon Daniels, Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard, LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier (+3000)

Odds last week (opening odds):

• Jalon Daniels: +3000 (+2500)
• Riley Leonard: +2000 (+2000)
• Garrett Nussmeier: +2000 (+1800)

There wasn’t much we could learn from Jalon Daniels’ performance against Lindenwood – his first game since September 23, 2023 – other than seeing with our own eyes that the KU quarterback is indeed healthy.

On the other side of the spectrum, it’s troubling to see Riley Leonard looking for a penalty on the run against Texas A&M just because of his own injury history. If the Notre Dame quarterback can take all of that beating this season, he should remain in the running for the Heisman Trophy given the light schedule the Irish have ahead of them.

Nussmeier, meanwhile, still has a lot more to do to make a name for himself. Especially after top tailback John Emery Jr. suffered another torn ACL in training this week. An absolutely brutal week for LSU just wouldn’t end.

9. Kansas State QB Avery Johnson, Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman, Penn State QB Drew Allar (+2500)

Odds last week (opening odds):

• Avery Johnson: +2500 (+5000)
• Conner Weigman: +2500 (+2000)
• Drew Allar: +3500 (+5000)

Texas A&M’s loss to Notre Dame didn’t hurt Weigman’s chances as much as it could have, and Johnson is still an open question given Kansas State’s road trip to Tulane this weekend.

Allar looked phenomenal against West Virginia in our first taste of Andy Kotelnicki’s new Penn State offense, but the game itself turned into an odd one due to a two-hour weather-related delay after halftime.

8. USC QB Miller Moss (+2200)

Odds last week (opening odds):

Caleb who?

OK, but let’s be honest, USC has a real QB (again) this year and that changes everything for the Trojans. We’ll find out very quickly how much of that opening win over LSU was due to the mutual understanding of Lincoln Riley and Miller Moss (378 yards, 1 touchdown) and how much was due to Brian Kelly doing Brian Kelly things.

7. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders (+2000)

Odds last week (opening odds):

Sanders will have to continue putting up monster numbers this year if Colorado’s defense is going to continue playing like one of the worst in the FBS. The Buffs passed their first big test in Week 1 against FCS powerhouse North Dakota State, with Sanders throwing for 445 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Still, no one who watched Colorado is convinced by this win.

6. Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter (+1500)

Odds last week (opening odds):

The biggest challenge facing Sanders’ campaign comes from within his own huddle. Travis Hunter reminded the sports world how absolutely dominant he is with a seven-catch, 132-yard, three-touchdown performance on offense and three-tackles on defense. He was off the field for just two snaps the entire game, one of which was because his helmet fell off on a previous play.

5. Ohio State quarterback Will Howard (+1400)

Odds last week (opening odds):

You don’t learn much against Akron, but Ohio State couldn’t cover the 48.5-point difference. Howard completed just over half of his passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns, putting the Buckeyes off a sluggish start.

4. Texas QB Quinn Ewers, Alabama QB Jalen Milroe (+1200)

Odds last week (opening odds):

• Quinn Ewers: +1000 (+800)
• Jalen Milroe: +1000 (+800)

Against Colorado State, Ewers seemed to be in complete control, but after Saturday’s road game at Michigan, we’ll have a much better idea of ​​where he stands in the race for the Heisman Trophy.

Milroe’s season debut, meanwhile, was more Kalen DeBoer’s first game as Alabama’s head coach than anything else. As the year progresses, we’ll likely see a much looser Milroe as the playbook opens up.

3. Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava, Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart (+1000)

Odds last week (opening odds):

• Nico Iamaleava: +1500 (+1100)
• Jaxson Darts: +1200 (+2000)

The hype train around Iamaleava isn’t at full speed yet, but after this weekend’s game against NC State, he could get there. A 314-yard, three-touchdown debut is about the best you can expect against Chattanooga.

Dart threw five touchdowns against Furman in a game that was over before kickoff.

2. Georgia QB Carson Beck, Miami (FL) QB Cam Ward (+800)

Odds last week (opening odds):

• Carson Beck: +800 (+800)
• Cam Ward: +1400 (+2000)

Hey, Cam Ward! Welcome to the Heisman race.

It’s no surprise that the former Washington State quarterback seemed to have full control of the offense, but the way he made The Swamp his home in the season opener was nothing short of eye-opening. Gaining nearly 400 yards against an in-state rival is the stuff transfer portal dreams are made of.

1. Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel (+650)

Odds last week (opening odds):

The king is still the king. Even if the Ducks didn’t look great in their season opener against Idaho. A slow start – or worse – against Boise State this week and we’ll likely see a new Heisman favorite on Sunday morning.