As of October 15, 2025, the Heisman Trophy race is wide open midway through the college football regular season, with quarterbacks dominating the top spots as usual. The award, given annually to the most outstanding player in college football, will be presented on December 13, 2025. Odds have fluctuated significantly based on recent performances, team success, and upsets—such as Indiana’s shocking win over Oregon on October 11, which boosted Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza while hurting Ducks QB Dante Moore.
The current favorites are led by Miami QB Carson Beck and Alabama QB Ty Simpson, who are essentially co-favorites across major sportsbooks like BetMGM, Caesars, and FanDuel. Beck has thrown for over 2,500 yards and 25 touchdowns with minimal turnovers, powering undefeated Miami to the top of the ACC. Simpson, a transfer from Auburn, has stepped up with clutch performances, including a 200-yard, three-TD game in Alabama’s narrow win over Missouri. Mendoza’s upset heroics (215 yards and a TD vs. Oregon) have vaulted him into contention, giving Indiana a playoff push.
Here’s a table of the top 10 favorites based on consensus odds from sources like BetMGM, FanDuel, and Caesars Sportsbook (as of October 14-15). Odds imply probability (e.g., +350 = ~22% chance).
| Rank | Player | Position | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carson Beck | QB | Miami | +300 |
| 2 | Ty Simpson | QB | Alabama | +350 |
| 3 | Fernando Mendoza | QB | Indiana | +450 |
| 4 | Jeremiah Smith | WR | Ohio State | +1000 |
| 5 | Julian Sayin | QB | Ohio State | +1400 |
| 6 | Marcel Reed | QB | Texas A&M | +2000 |
| 7 | Dante Moore | QB | Oregon | +2000 |
| 8 | Jayden Maiava | QB | USC | +2500 |
| 9 | Trinidad Chambliss | QB | Ole Miss | +2500 |
| 10 | Devon Dampier | QB | Utah | +3000 |
Notable Risers and Fallers:
- Riser: Mendoza surged from +1400 to +450 after his Oregon upset, making Indiana a surprise contender.
- Riser: Simpson jumped from +750 to +350 with back-to-back ranked wins for Alabama.
- Faller: Moore dropped from +750 (pre-Week 7 favorite) to +2000 after Oregon’s home loss to Indiana.
- Preseason darling Arch Manning (Texas) is now a longshot at +8000, buried by inconsistency.
Recent X discussions echo this, with users like @Brett_McMurphy noting Simpson edging Beck as a slight favorite on betting markets like Kalshi, and @CollegeFBonX highlighting Mendoza’s momentum. The race could shift dramatically with upcoming matchups, like Alabama at Tennessee (October 18) or Ohio State vs. Penn State (October 25). QBs have won 20 of the last 25 Heismans, so expect them to stay dominant unless a non-QB like Smith explodes.
