2026 Heisman Trophy Odds: CJ Carr Edges Arch Manning as Favorite

• 2026 Heisman Trophy odds are available for the upcoming NCAAF season
• CJ Carr leads at +750, with Arch Manning at +775 right behind
• Brendan Sorsby is off the board after entering a gambling addiction treatment program

---

The 2026 Heisman Trophy race is wide open. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza ran away with the 2025 vote, then went No. 1 overall to the Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft. That leaves a fresh board with CJ Carr leading at +750, Arch Manning right behind at +775, and a stacked group of returning quarterbacks plus the best wide receiver in college football all within reach.

One major preseason name is gone. Texas Tech transfer Brendan Sorsby entered a residential gambling addiction treatment program on April 27 after reports surfaced that he placed bets on Indiana football while enrolled there in 2022. The NCAA is investigating, his attorneys are seeking an expedited eligibility ruling, and his 2026 status remains in serious doubt.

Check out the 2026 Heisman Trophy odds available at our most trusted sportsbooks below. The graphs underneath the table show each player’s average odds to win the 2026 Heisman.

2026 Heisman Trophy Odds

CJ Carr sits at +750 as the slight favorite after a strong first season as Notre Dame’s starter. Arch Manning is +775, with Texas loading up the offense around him this offseason. The two have flipped the top spot multiple times over the past three months, and at most major sportsbooks they’re separated by a hair. BetMGM and DraftKings have them tied at +750.

Trinidad Chambliss (+1100) won his eligibility case in court and is back at Ole Miss for a sixth year. Julian Sayin (+1100) and Dante Moore (+1100) lead the next tier as returning quarterbacks on title-contending offenses. Jeremiah Smith (+1300) is the best non-QB on the board after a 1,243-yard, 12-TD sophomore year.

Josh Hoover (+1200) takes over for Mendoza at Indiana after his transfer from TCU. Darian Mensah (+1250) leads a Miami offense that returns Malachi Toney, who led the nation with 109 catches as a freshman. Sam Leavitt (+2000) followed Lane Kiffin to LSU and rounds out the top 10.

*Heisman odds above are updated every 15-60 minutes from top-rated college football betting apps, including FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM.

Odds to Win 2026 Heisman Trophy

Here are some notes on the Heisman Trophy odds movement:

• [May 25] CJ Carr extends his lead to +750 with Arch Manning at +775. Trinidad Chambliss drifts to +1100 as the spring eligibility drama dies down. Sam Leavitt holds at +2000 after officially transferring to LSU.
• [April 27] Brendan Sorsby is pulled from the board after entering a residential gambling addiction treatment program. The NCAA opens an investigation into bets he reportedly placed on Indiana football in 2022.
• [April 9] CJ Carr and Arch Manning are tied at +775. Trinidad Chambliss tightens from +900 to +975 after the Mississippi Supreme Court denies the NCAA’s appeal of his eligibility ruling.
• [March 12] CJ Carr moves into the top spot at +775 over Arch Manning at +825. Chambliss climbs to +900 after winning his injunction in February. Josh Hoover drops from +1400 to +1200 after landing at Indiana.
• [February 20] CJ Carr shortens from +800 to +775 after Notre Dame locks in its offensive line returners. Dante Moore drifts to +1200 after Oregon’s OC Will Stein officially departs for Kentucky.
• [January 15] Arch Manning opens as the lone favorite at +750. CJ Carr sits just behind at +800. Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith, and Josh Hoover share the next tier at +1100.

2026 Heisman Trophy Favorites

CJ Carr, Notre Dame QB (+750)

Carr broke out as a redshirt freshman in 2025, throwing for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns against just six interceptions. He completed 67% of his passes, added three rushing TDs, and finished top-10 nationally in pass efficiency. Notre Dame won 10 straight to close the regular season but got snubbed from the CFP after an early loss to Miami.

The Irish have reloaded around him. Marcus Freeman pulled DT Tionne Gray (Oregon), WR Quincy Porter (Ohio State), and EDGE Keon Keeley (Alabama) from the portal. Carr has talked openly about Notre Dame’s focus on starting fast in 2026, and he’s already projected as a top-five pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. The combination of returning talent, schedule, and a healthy CFP path makes him the rightful favorite.

Arch Manning, Texas QB (+775)

Manning’s first full season as a starter was a tale of two halves. He threw five picks in his first five games as Texas opened 4-2, then settled in down the stretch with just two interceptions over his final seven games. He finished with 2,942 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven picks, capped by a 376-yard performance in the Citrus Bowl win over Michigan.

Texas loaded up the offense for year two. Auburn transfer Cam Coleman arrives after 1,306 yards and 13 TDs with the Tigers, and the Longhorns added RB Raleek Brown and five-star RB Derrek Cooper. Manning had minor foot surgery in January but is expected to be ready for fall camp. A real Heisman run feels very realistic with a full year of starting experience and better weapons around him.

Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss QB (+1100)

Chambliss might be the most compelling story on the board. The Division II Ferris State transfer didn’t become Ole Miss’s full-time starter until Week 3 of 2025 and still finished with 3,937 passing yards (third nationally), 22 TDs, and just 3 picks. He added 527 rushing yards and 8 rushing scores. Chambliss finished 8th in 2025 Heisman voting and led Ole Miss to its first-ever CFP appearance.

The NCAA denied his sixth-year eligibility request twice. Chambliss sued in Mississippi state court, won an injunction in February, and the NCAA’s appeal was denied by the Mississippi Supreme Court in March. He’s now cleared to play in 2026. Ole Miss travels to Texas in Week 8, which gives him a primetime stage to showcase his case.

Julian Sayin, Ohio State QB (+1100)

Sayin is the only returning 2025 Heisman finalist. He threw for 3,610 yards and 32 TDs against just 8 interceptions as a true sophomore, completing a nation-best 77% of his passes. He finished fourth in last year’s voting with eight first-place votes.

Ohio State will likely be the 2026 championship favorite, and his top target Jeremiah Smith is back in Columbus. Five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr. also joins the receiver room. Returning quarterbacks on title-contending teams check every box voters look for.

Dante Moore, Oregon QB (+1100)

Moore shocked everyone by returning to Oregon for a final season despite being projected as a top-two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He threw for 3,565 yards and 32 total touchdowns in 2025 but added 10 interceptions and had a rough CFP loss to Indiana.

The one concern is OC Will Stein leaving for Kentucky. Moore has to learn a new offense, but the returning talent around him is high-end. Cleaning up the turnovers is the path to a real Heisman run.

Non-Quarterbacks to Watch

Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State WR (+1300)

The best player in college football and a true junior in 2026. Smith finished 6th in 2025 Heisman voting with 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 TDs. He has back-to-back 1,000-yard, 10-TD seasons and already holds Ohio State records for fastest receiver to 25 receiving TDs and 2,000 receiving yards.

The Sayin-Smith connection often pushes the quarterback to the Heisman, see Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase in 2019. But Smith’s path could look more like DeVonta Smith’s 2020 Heisman run at Alabama.

Malachi Toney, Miami (FL) WR (+4000)

The best true freshman in 2025, Toney led the nation with 109 receptions for 1,211 yards. He also threw multiple touchdowns and returned punts for the national champions. Miami returns the core of its title-winning roster, and Toney is the focal point of the offense regardless of who plays quarterback.

Dark Horse 2026 Heisman Contenders

Darian Mensah, Miami QB (+1250)

Mensah transferred from Duke to Miami and inherits a loaded offense that just won the national title. Malachi Toney is back as his top target, and the buzz around Miami is real. The Hurricanes haven’t had a Heisman winner since Gino Torretta in 1992. That changes if Mensah hits the ground running.

Sam Leavitt, LSU QB (+2000)

Lane Kiffin landed the No. 1 player in the transfer portal at LSU. Leavitt helped Arizona State win a Big 12 title and reach the CFP in 2024 before injuries cut his 2025 short after seven starts. He still produced 1,628 passing yards, 10 passing TDs, and 5 rushing scores.

Here’s the wild stat: Leavitt could become the second player to transfer from Arizona State to LSU and win the Heisman in the last three years, following Jayden Daniels in 2023.

Keelon Russell, Alabama QB (+3500)

Russell hasn’t been named Alabama’s starter yet (Austin Mack is the other option), but he’s the higher-upside play. In Alabama’s spring game, Russell completed 21 of 33 passes for 240 yards with four TDs and one INT while extending plays with his legs in a non-contact jersey. If he wins the job, the talent is there for a real run.

Heisman Trophy Betting Trends

• Quarterbacks have won 16 of the last 20 Heisman Trophies
• Five of the last six Heisman-winning QBs were transfers
• Since 1988, every Heisman winner has come from a team that won at least 9 games
• Since 2013, five Heisman winners have gone on to be the No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick
• Fernando Mendoza is the fourth straight transfer QB to win the Heisman

Heisman Odds History: Preseason vs Closing

Want proof that the Heisman favorite rarely wins? Here’s how the last 10 winners opened vs where they closed, plus the preseason favorite that year.

Just one of the last 10 preseason favorites actually won. That’s why preseason longshots like Mendoza (+5500), Burrow (+4000), and Jackson (+10000) are where the real Heisman value lives.

How to Bet the 2026 Heisman

Heisman futures move sharply throughout the season. The earlier you bet, the better your price. Here are the key windows:

• Preseason (now through August): Best value on longshots and breakout candidates. Mendoza was +5500 last preseason and closed at -1000.
• Weeks 1-3: Sweet spot for spotting surging contenders before their odds tighten. Mendoza moved from +5500 to a single-digit favorite by midseason.
• October-November: Lines tighten dramatically after key signature games. Value is mostly gone on the favorite by this point.
• Conference Championship Weekend: Final big swing window. The award is essentially decided here in most years.

Who Usually Wins the Heisman Trophy?

Quarterbacks have owned the Heisman for years. Travis Hunter broke through in 2024 as a two-way player, but Mendoza put the award right back in a quarterback’s hands in 2025.

Recent Heisman Winners

Since 2000, quarterbacks have won 21 of 25 Heismans. The other four winners: Derrick Henry (RB), DeVonta Smith (WR), Travis Hunter (CB/WR), and Reggie Bush (RB).

Heisman Trophies by Conference

The SEC leads all conferences with nine Heisman winners since 2000. The Big Ten picked up its third with Mendoza’s win for Indiana. Conference realignment has shaken up the traditional pecking order.

Where Can You Bet on the Heisman Trophy?

All the main sports betting apps offer Heisman Trophy betting, including BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, bet365, and ESPN Bet among others. Some sites pull their Heisman odds on Saturdays during games but they’ll be back once the books adjust for the day’s results.

Heisman Odds FAQ

Who's the favorite to win the 2026 Heisman?

CJ Carr is the favorite at +750 to win the 2026 Heisman Trophy. Arch Manning sits right behind at +775. Both quarterbacks play for likely CFP contenders. BetMGM and DraftKings have the two tied at +750.

What happened to Brendan Sorsby?

Texas Tech transfer Brendan Sorsby entered a residential gambling addiction treatment program on April 27, 2026. Reports indicate he placed bets on Indiana football while enrolled there in 2022. The NCAA is investigating and his 2026 eligibility is in serious doubt. Most sportsbooks have removed him from the Heisman board.

Who won the 2025 Heisman Trophy?

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy in a landslide over Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia. Mendoza picked up 643 first-place votes to Pavia’s 189. Mendoza was selected No. 1 overall by the Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Who are the best non-QB Heisman bets?

Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith (+1300) is the best non-quarterback bet on the 2026 Heisman board. Smith finished 6th in 2025 Heisman voting with 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 TDs. Miami WR Malachi Toney (+4000) is the next best non-QB option after leading the nation in receptions as a freshman.

Has a freshman ever won the Heisman?

Only two freshmen have won the Heisman Trophy. Johnny Manziel (2012) was the first, as a redshirt freshman. Jameis Winston (2013) is the only true freshman ever to win the award.

When is the 2026 Heisman Trophy awarded?

The Heisman Trophy is awarded in December at the end of the regular season and conference championship games. The 2026 ceremony will take place in New York City in December 2026. Exact date and time will be announced closer to the event.

---

Archived Heisman Trophy Odds:

• 2025
• 2024
• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018