- John Mateer is the new Heisman favorite: Oklahoma’s signal-caller is the betting favorite to secure the Heisman Trophy after leading the Sooners to a win over No. 15 Michigan this past weekend.
- Arch Manning is still hanging around: Despite receiving plenty of criticism, Texas’ starting quarterback still has the fifth-best odds to take home the Heisman Trophy.
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We may only be a couple of weeks into the 2025 college football season, but it’s never too early to start looking at how the Heisman Trophy race is shaking out.
Here’s a breakdown of the current five favorites to win the bronze stiff-arm, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
QB John Mateer, Oklahoma (+850)
Mateer is the new Heisman favorite after leading Oklahoma to a 24-13 victory over No. 15 Michigan this past weekend. The Washington State transfer posted a 76.4 PFF overall grade in the victory after throwing for 270 yards and a touchdown, as well as running for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Mateer’s 80.8 PFF passing grade on the season is tied for 22nd in the FBS, and his five big-time throws are tied for the 10th most. No quarterback has recorded more than his three rushing touchdowns, either. Mateer is still a bit of a rollercoaster, with four turnover-worthy plays so far, but there’s no denying that he’s one of the most electric quarterbacks in the country.
QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU (+900)
Nussmeier is tied with Penn State quarterback Drew Allar for the best odds to go No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft (+350). He led LSU to a 17-10 road victory over No. 4 Clemson in Week 1. Nussmeier’s numbers didn’t jump off the page in that game, but he did an excellent job of helping his inexperienced offensive line against Clemson’s elite defensive line. His average time to throw was a blistering 2.09 seconds in the win. He has another big game this weekend against Florida.
QB Carson Beck, Miami (FL) (+1100)
After a down year at Georgia in 2024, Beck appears to have found his groove at Miami. He led the Hurricanes to a victory over No. 6 Notre Dame in Week 1, and his 83% adjusted completion rate for the season is tied for seventh among Power Four quarterbacks.
Beck still hasn’t committed a turnover-worthy play, either. He and fifth-ranked Miami have another big game this weekend against No. 18 USF.
QB Dante Moore, Oregon (+1300)
Oregon has produced back-to-back Heisman finalists at quarterback in Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel. Through two weeks, Moore looks like he could make it three in a row. The redshirt sophomore and 2023 five-star recruit has completed 77.3% of his passes (ninth in FBS). He’s also thrown six touchdowns with no interceptions, and his 80.3 PFF overall grade is a top-30 mark in the country.
With the Ducks currently ranked as the No. 4 team in the country, Moore should be in the spotlight for the foreseeable future.
QB Arch Manning, Texas (+1400)
Manning has received plenty of criticism for his play through two weeks, which included a season-opening loss to Ohio State, but he’s still produced plenty of highs. His 83.9 PFF overall grade ranks 21st among FBS quarterbacks, and his seven big-time throws are tied for the most in the Power Four.
Manning has still been up and down, with his nine turnover-worthy plays tying for the fourth most in the Power Four. He’ll have an opportunity to play more consistent football across the next two weeks against UTEP and Sam Houston State.
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