2025 Heisman Trophy Odds: Mendoza and Simpson Lead After Week 8

• College football Heisman odds are available for the 2025 NCAAF season
• Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson lead at +333 and +350 after Week 8 performances
• Track the 2025 Heisman odds movement for all contenders throughout the season

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The Heisman Trophy is college football’s most prestigious award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in the sport. The 2025 Heisman race has been completely turned upside down through eight weeks. None of the preseason favorites are seriously in contention anymore, and a Cal transfer quarterback who opened at +5500 now leads the pack.

Check out the Heisman Trophy odds available at our most trusted sportsbooks below. The graphs underneath the table show each player’s average odds to win the 2025 Heisman.

2025 Heisman Trophy Odds

Fernando Mendoza currently sits at +333 to win the Heisman Trophy. The Indiana quarterback leads all contenders after torching Michigan State for 332 yards and four touchdowns on 24-of-28 passing in Week 8. The +333 odds give Mendoza a 23.1% implied probability to win the award. A $20 bet on Mendoza would profit $66.60 if he wins.

Alabama’s Ty Simpson sits right behind Mendoza at +350 after completing 19-of-29 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns in the Tide’s 37-20 win over Tennessee. Simpson has won five straight games, including four against ranked opponents. Ohio State’s Julian Sayin rounds out the top three at +400 after his 393-yard, four-touchdown masterpiece against Wisconsin.

The biggest faller of Week 8 was Carson Beck, who threw four interceptions in Miami’s shocking home loss to Louisville. Beck’s odds ballooned to +6000, essentially eliminating him from serious contention.

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

Odds to Win 2025 Heisman Trophy

Here are some notes on the Heisman Trophy odds movement:

• [October 20] Fernando Mendoza strengthened his lead, tightening from +453 to +333 after his 332-yard, four-touchdown performance against Michigan State. Julian Sayin made a massive jump, shortening from +1650 to +400 after throwing for 393 yards and four touchdowns against Wisconsin. Diego Pavia improved from +5250 to +850 after striking the Heisman pose in Vanderbilt’s upset of LSU.
• [September 23] Fernando Mendoza took over as the Heisman favorite after John Mateer’s injury news broke. Mateer needs surgery on his right hand and will miss approximately a month, with his odds immediately pulled from most sportsbooks. Mendoza, fresh off his five-touchdown performance against Illinois, moved to +650 and became the new betting favorite.
• [September 22] John Mateer held onto the top spot at +825 before his injury, while Fernando Mendoza sat at +875. Carson Beck’s odds drifted to +1400, Dante Moore was at +1150, and Josh Hoover made a huge jump to +1600 from +4717 the previous week after his five-touchdown game against SMU.
• [September 15] After Week 3, John Mateer strengthened his position as the favorite at +875. Carson Beck sat second at +700, while Fernando Mendoza was a distant +2650. Gunner Stockton (+1267) and Jeremiah Smith (+1533) rounded out the top five.
• [September 2] Florida State’s Tommy Castellanos made the week’s biggest move after stunning Alabama. His odds rocketed from +12500 to +3000 following his 150-yard passing, 75-yard rushing performance in the 31-17 upset.
• [September 2] Arch Manning’s debut disaster sent him tumbling down the board. The Texas quarterback went from +650 favorite to +1533 after throwing for just 170 yards with a pick in the 14-7 loss to Ohio State.
• [August 22] Final preseason update shows Arch Manning as the +650 favorite, with Garrett Nussmeier at +883 and Cade Klubnik at +900 rounding out the top three.
• [January 31] Arch Manning opens as the +750 favorite to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy. The Texas QB takes over a loaded offense despite limited 2024 snaps. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier sits second at +800.

Heisman Trophy Betting Trends

• A quarterback has won 20 of the last 24 Heisman Trophies
• Since 2000, only four non-QBs have won the award – three running backs and Travis Hunter (CB/WR)
• Travis Hunter broke a 27-year drought for defensive players in 2024
• Winners typically come from teams that win at least 10 games

Top Contenders by Position

The quarterback position completely dominates the current Heisman race. Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Ty Simpson (Alabama), Julian Sayin (Ohio State), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), and Marcel Reed (Texas A&M) lead the way. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love sits at +2000, making him the only non-quarterback in serious contention.

• Top 9 favorites are quarterbacks
• Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love is the only RB in the top 10 at +2000
• Preseason favorite Arch Manning has crashed to +22500

Who Usually Wins the Heisman Trophy?

Quarterbacks have owned the Heisman Trophy for years. Then Travis Hunter showed up in 2024 and changed everything as a cornerback/receiver.

Travis Hunter’s Historic 2024 Heisman Win

Colorado’s Travis Hunter became the first defensive player to win the Heisman since Charles Woodson in 1997. Playing both cornerback and receiver, Hunter put up crazy numbers on both sides:

• Offense: 92 catches, 1,152 yards, 14 TDs
• Defense: 4 INTs, 11 pass breakups, 30 total tackles

Hunter played over 95% of Colorado’s snaps on both sides of the ball. He dominated college football in a way nobody had seen in decades.

Recent Heisman Winners

Before Hunter and DeVonta Smith (2020), you have to go back to 2015 for a non-QB winner. That was Alabama’s Derrick Henry at running back. Charles Woodson in 1997 was the only other defensive player to take home the hardware.

Since 2000, quarterbacks have won 20 of 24 Heismans. Only four other guys broke through: Henry (RB), Smith (WR), Hunter (CB/WR), and Reggie Bush (RB).

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 Trophies by Conference

The SEC leads all conferences with nine Heisman winners since 2000. The Big Ten could get their third if Mendoza captures the award for Indiana. The conference realignment has shaken up traditional conference dominance.

Heisman Odds FAQ

Who's the favorite to win the 2025 Heisman?

Fernando Mendoza is currently favored to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy. The Indiana quarterback sits at +333 after his 332-yard, four-touchdown performance against Michigan State in Week 8. Alabama’s Ty Simpson is right behind at +350.

When is the Heisman Trophy awarded?

The Heisman Trophy gets handed out in early December, right after the regular season ends.

What happened to Carson Beck's Heisman odds?

Carson Beck’s odds ballooned to +6000 after he threw four interceptions in Miami’s 24-21 home loss to Louisville on Friday night. Beck was a top contender before the disaster performance that essentially ended his Heisman campaign.

What happened to Arch Manning's Heisman odds?

Arch Manning’s odds have crashed to +22500. The preseason favorite at +650 has fallen completely out of the race after Texas struggled through eight games.

Who made the biggest jump in Week 8?

Diego Pavia made a huge jump from +5250 to +850 after striking the Heisman pose in Vanderbilt’s upset of LSU. Marcel Reed also surged from +1800 to +1050 after Texas A&M’s dominant win.

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.

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Archived Heisman Trophy Odds:

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