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The 2026 college football season is right around the corner. Soon, bettors will be placing their future wagers on conference champions and award winners across the sport.
This offseason has seen a number of controversial eligibility decisions that have directly impacted those odds, including the Heisman trophy. The Brendan Sorsby ruling at Texas Tech is the latest.
The quarterback has been deemed temporarily eligible by a Texas court. He will be suspended two games for gambling.
That will not affect his availability in Big 12 play. He will be on the field for all nine league contests barring injury. A path to a College Football Playoff return is open.
It sets up nicely for a potential Heisman run.
Update Heisman odds after Brendan Sorsby ruling.
Sorsby’s return has created movement in Heisman trophy odds. There are now 10 players that boast chances shorter than 20/1.
Here, we’ll break those contenders down, ranking them from 10 to 1. Odds are provided by DraftKings.
Brendan Sorsby (+1800)
Sorsby transferred from Cincinnati to Texas Tech after a breakout 2025 season. The quarterback led the Big 12 in yards per completion and QB efficiency with the Bearcats.
Last year, Sorsby threw 27 touchdowns and ran for nine more. He also protected the football with just five interceptions.
Now, he joins a conference rival. He signed with the Red Raiders for $5 million. His eligibility was in question following the uncovering of gambling activity. A Texas judge ruled in his favor to provide temporary eligibility.
That decision catapults him back into the Heisman trophy conversation. He enters the year with the T-9th best odds to win the award.
Gunner Stockton (+1800)
Stockton took over as Georgia’s starting quarterback in 2025 and didn’t disappoint. He led the Bulldogs to an SEC championship and the College Football Playoff.
Now, he looks to run it back in Year 2 under center.
Last season, Stockton threw 24 touchdowns to just five picks while adding 10 scores on the ground. He has an uncanny ability to keep plays alive with his feet and his toughness is unmatched.
His past production leading a talented Georgia offense puts him firmly in the Heisman trophy mix.
Jeremiah Smith (+1300)
Smith may be the most talented player in the country. His status as a wide receiver dims his outlook as a Heisman trophy contender, though no one would be surprised if he won the award in 2026.
Smith is the lone pass catcher in the Top 10. It’s a deserved honor given his ridiculous production across two seasons at Ohio State.
As a freshman, he took the college football world by storm with a 1,315-yard season. He hauled in the game-sealing catch in the Buckeyes’ national championship victory.
He again led the Big 10 in receiving as a sophomore and will look to repeat next year. Should he do so, he could have a seat at the Heisman ceremony in December.
Darian Mensah (+1200)
Mensah is another player that dealt with eligibility concerns after transferring to a conference rival. His situation was a bit different than Sorsby’s.
Mensah left Duke after signing a $4 million NIL contract. Miami upped the ante with a massive deal of their own.
Duke sued Mensah for contract breach after he entered the portal. Eventually, he was granted his transfer. It was a huge win for the Hurricanes.
Mensah threw for 3,973 yards and 34 scores last year to pace the ACC. That production helped the Blue Devils win a conference championship.
He will now look to return to the title contest with a new team. Should he lead Miami back to the College Football Playoff, his name will be mentioned in the Heisman race.
Josh Hoover (+1200)
Hoover enters the 2026 season as one of the nation’s most productive returning signal callers. At TCU, he threw for 9,627 yards and 71 touchdowns in three seasons as a starter.
Now, he plans to keep the success going at a new school. Hoover transferred to national champion Indiana in the offseason. The marriage with Curt Cignetti could further boost his numbers.
Last year’s Heisman trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza, thrived in the Hoosiers’ offense while leading the program to its first ever title. Cignetti was able to replace the passer with a proven threat.
Should Hoover get Indiana back to the College Football Playoff, he will be a Heisman trophy contender.
Trinidad Chambliss (+1100)
Chambliss was the biggest surprise of the 2025 college football season. The former D2 passer led Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff, taking the Rebels one game away from the national championship.
He is no longer flying under the radar. Chambliss boasts the fifth-best odds to win the Heisman trophy.
Last year, the quarterback threw for 3,937 yards to lead the SEC. He also tossed 22 touchdowns to just three interceptions while rushing for eight more scores.
Much has changed in Oxford this offseason. Lane Kiffin is off to LSU. Much of the offensive staff followed the head coach.
Ole Miss hopes Chambliss’s production doesn’t slip under the new staff. If the Rebs can recapture that 2025 magic, expect Chambliss to be atop the Heisman trophy finalists.
Dante Moore (+1000)
Moore could’ve easily joined the NFL Draft class and been selected as the No. 2 overall pick this past April. Instead, he chose to return to Oregon.
The veteran passer is a Heisman trophy favorite as one of four players with at odds of 10/1 or shorter.
Last season, he threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns to lead the Ducks to the College Football Playoff. He then won two games in the postseason before falling to Indiana.
His return solidifies Oregon’s status as a national title contender. If his production exceeds what was seen last year, which many believe it will, he could very easily land a seat at the Heisman trophy ceremony come season’s end.
Julian Sayin (+1000)
Sayin has a bit less fanfare than others on this list, maybe due to being overshadowed by teammate Jeremiah Smith. Still, he ranks third in college football Heisman odds after finishing fourth in last year’s voting as a freshman.
The production is there. Sayin led the Big 10 in completions after winning the starting role. He threw for 3,610 yards and 32 scores to take Ohio State to the College Football Playoff.
The Buckeyes went undefeated under Sayin’s guidance before losing in the Big 10 championship. They then fell to Miami in their CFP opener. They’ll look to scrub that losing skid and win a second national title in three years.
Sayin will have some of the most talented offensive weapons at his disposal. If he’s able to get them the ball consistently like he did last year (77% completion rate), he should be in the mix to win some hardware.
CJ Carr (+750)
Carr was stellar in his first season leading the Notre Dame offense. He threw for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns as a freshman while winning 10 games.
The Fighting Irish ended the year on a 10-game winning streak after back-to-back three-point losses to future College Football Playoff participants in the opening weeks. Carr’s play only got better with experience.
Unfortunately, he missed out on the postseason. Notre Dame was the first team left out of the field. This season, he looks to make a CFP debut.
He’ll likely need to boost his numbers from last season to earn true consideration. Most believe it will happen given his position as the Heisman trophy favorite alongside Arch Manning.
Arch Manning (+750)
Manning is tied with CJ Carr at +750 odds to win the Heisman trophy. That makes them the favorites at this moment in time.
The Texas passer found himself in a similar position last year before taking over as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback. He fell short of those expectations the first time around.
Still, he threw for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns as a sophomore. He also showed his dual-threat abilities with 10 rushing scores.
Most expect Manning to improve upon his 2025 totals. Experience will lead to success. If he can get Texas to the SEC Championship and College Football Playoff, he will likely have done enough to take home the sport’s most prestigious award.