4 Quarterbacks Lead Heisman Trophy Race, According to the Odds

The college football season is more than halfway done, but Heisman Trophy race is just really getting started down that backstretch.

In the latest odds, there are four quarterbacks in the lead for college football's most prestigious individual award. Alabama's Bryce Young pulled into the lead after an impressive outing last Saturday against Tennessee. Then there's Matt Corral of Ole Miss, who slipped from a tie for the lead and into second. Ohio State's C.J. Stroud is third, followed by Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett, who is a solid fourth.

Additionally, Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder is fifth, tied with three running backs.

Here are the odds to win the 2021 Heisman Trophy heading into the last weekend of October, according to FanDuel.com.

+125 — Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
+350 — Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
+450 — CJ Stroud, QB Ohio State
+900 — Kenny Pickett, QB Pittsburgh
+4000 — Desmond Ridder, QB Cincinnati
+4000 — Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
+4000 — Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama
+4000 — TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
+5000 — Brennan Armstrong, QB, Virginia
+5000 — Caleb Williams, QB, Oklahoma
+6000 — Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
+8000 — Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
+8000 — Drake London, WR, USC
+8000 — Sam Hartman, QB, Wake Forest
+10000 — John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
+10000 — Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
+10000 — Casey Thompson, QB, Texas
+10000 — Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
+10000 — Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
+10000 — Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State
+10000 — Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
+10000 — Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia

Pittsburgh Panthers QB Kenny Pickett
Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Panthers reacts after rushing for a first down in the fourth quarter during the game against the Clemson Tigers at Heinz Field on October 23, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

The Heisman Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Voting is comprised of 870 media members, 56 living Heisman winners and one vote of collective fan voters.

Wide receiver DeVonta Smith of Alabama won the award last season despite not being on the preseason watch list. Smith emerged as Alabama's top receiver after Jaylen Waddle suffered a season-ending injury, and Smith became the top target in the high-flying offense.

The favorite heading into 2021 was Okalhoma's Spencer Rattler, who has been sidelined this year for ineffective play. Now, Rattler isn't even among the top 34 players on FanDuel but his replacement, freshman Caleb WIlliams, is listed at plus-5000. Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, who was also on the preseason watch list, is not among the players listed who have current odds, either.

Heisman Trophy finalists will be named on Dec. 6, and the ceremony will take place Saturday, Dec. 11 when the winner is announced.

The previous week, Corral and Young were neck-and-neck at plus-175 apiece. Next was Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud at plus-700, and then a big drop-off.

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Scott McDonald is a Newsweek deputy night editor based in Cape Coral, Florida. His focus is assigning and writing stories ... Read more

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