Whereas it is each faculty soccer group’s objective to win a nationwide championship, few particular person accomplishments imply greater than profitable a Heisman Trophy. It’s the sport’s most illustrious award, and — no less than lately — loads of gamers have parlayed a Heisman win right into a profitable skilled profession. 

Former Heisman winner and Alabama vast receiver DeVonta Smith simply gained a Tremendous Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. Ex-LSU star Joe Burrow was named the 2024 NFL Comeback Participant of the Yr (his second such honor) after throwing for 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns. Fellow LSU alum and Heisman recipient Jayden Daniels was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Yr after a stellar debut season with the Washington Commanders. 

With the 2024 faculty soccer season effectively previously, it is by no means too early to look forward at gamers that might declare the award subsequent season. Curiously, every of the previous three Heisman winners — and 4 of the final six — transferred no less than as soon as throughout their collegiate careers. 

However every of the highest three favorites for the 2025 season have caught with the identical college to date. Standouts like LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Texas’ Arch Manning waited their flip and developed regardless of the proliferation of the switch portal, and now they’ve a first-rate alternative to set themselves aside.

Not all Heisman frontrunners are created equally, although. With the season nonetheless over six months away, let’s separate every of the highest six betting favorites into “Contenders” and “Pretenders.” 

All odds through FanDuel Sportsbook. 

Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU 

Odds: +800 | Standing: Contender 

Nussmeier is the favourite to seize the 2025 Heisman Trophy, and for good purpose. He is arguably the highest returning quarterback in faculty soccer after throwing for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns in his first full 12 months as LSU’s starter. There’s simply one thing about LSU quarterbacks and their second 12 months as a starter — Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels every gained the Heisman of their proverbial sophomore 12 months main the Tigers’ offense. If he can minimize down on turnovers, count on Nussmeier to make an identical leap — particularly with improved depth and expertise serving to him out on the vast receiver place. 

Arch Manning, QB, Texas 

Odds: +900 | Standing: Contender 

The Manning hype is ramping as much as a fever pitch forward of his much-anticipated first 12 months as Texas’ full-time starter. It is greater than only a title. Manning has all of the instruments to take his place as one of many nation’s premiere offensive gamers. He noticed intensive taking part in time final season when Quinn Ewers went down with an damage, throwing for tossed 806 yards and eight touchdowns. That manufacturing is much more staggering while you notice it got here in lower than three complete video games. Manning additionally has the speeding upside that Heisman voters typically covet from the quarterback place. Even when Ewers was wholesome, the Longhorns introduced Manning into the sport for particular rush packages. He is the actual deal. 

Odds: +1000 | Standing: Contender 

Klubnik quietly put collectively an unbelievable 2024 season and eventually lived as much as his billing as a former five-star prospect. He threw for a career-high 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns and rushed for a career-high 463 yards and 7 scores whereas main the Tigers to an ACC title and an look within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. With Clemson again on the upswing, Klubnik’s profile will develop on the nationwide scene — as long as he can keep that top degree of play. With vast receiver Antonio Williams — whose 11 touchdowns receiving led the ACC — again, Klubnik’s in good condition. 

Odds: +1200 | Standing: Pretender 

There is a good probability this projection falls flat on its face, however there’s an excessive amount of unknown round Moore to confidently predict that he’ll be within the Heisman dialog. He definitely has the capability, with a great body and an enormous arm that may ship the ball to each degree of the sector. He is additionally in a great state of affairs at Oregon, which has produced gaudy offensive numbers below coach Dan Lanning. However Moore’s one season as an on once more, off once more starter at UCLA in 2023 left a lot to be desired. He was a real freshman, and the hope is that he is grown a lot within the nearly two years since whereas additionally bettering his state of affairs by transferring to Eugene. Moore has tons of potential, but it surely stays largely untapped at this level. 

Odds: +1200 | Standing: Contender 

Although he was a real freshman, many referred to as Smith the most effective participant in faculty soccer final season. It is laborious to argue with that evaluation. He emerged because the Alpha in a loaded Ohio State vast receiver room from the second he stepped foot on campus. He set a Large Ten single-season freshman file with 15 touchdowns receiving and compiled 1,315 yards via the air (fourth within the FBS). He did a few of his finest work within the Faculty Soccer Playoff, with 381 yards and 5 touchdowns in Ohio State’s four-game march to the nationwide title. It is laborious to fathom how he’ll carry out as he continues to develop. 

Odds: +1400 | Standing: Pretender 

Iamaleava confirmed flashes of greatness in his beginning debut final season, although consistency escaped him. He failed to interrupt 3,000 yards passing, had simply 19 touchdowns via the air and accomplished lower than 65% of his passes. He was held below 200 yards passing in eight of Tennessee’s 13 video games. There is no denying Iamaleava’s uncooked potential, however he has but to place all of it collectively. He ought to enhance as he continues to acclimate to the collegiate recreation and there is a stable shot that he takes an enormous second-year leap. However lots of concern about Iamaleava’s Heisman upside is past his management. Tennessee misplaced seven receivers to both commencement or the switch portal, together with its three leaders on the place. The Vols return only one scholarship vast receiver with multiple 12 months of school soccer below his belt. There’s expertise within the vast receiver room, to make sure, however the lack of expertise might create a tough adjustment interval early on, which hampers Iamaleava’s potential to supply a Heisman-worthy stat line. 

Longshots value keeping track of 

LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina (+1800): The 6-foot-3 and 242-pound Sellers accounted for 3,208 complete yards of offense and 25 touchdowns in 2024, seven of which got here on the bottom. He is acquired an enormous arm and elite speeding potential. There is a sense that he is barely scratched the floor of his capabilities. 

DJ Lagway, QB, Florida (+2000): Lagway break up time with Graham Mertz as a real freshman after which took over because the starter when Mertz suffered a season-ending knee damage halfway via the season. Whereas Lagway’s remaining stats do not pop off the web page (particularly his 12 touchdowns to 9 interceptions), he is an especially gifted sign caller that appears poised to emerge as a premier faculty soccer star. 

Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State (+3300): If Arizona State needs to repeat its breakout 2024 season, through which it gained the Large 12 and certified for the Faculty Soccer Playoff, it is going to be via Leavitt. Leavitt is, for lack of a greater time period, a “dawg.” He could not have essentially the most instruments, however he’s a playmaker that steps up each time his group wants him. 

Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama (+4000): Williams dropped off a bit in direction of the top of the 12 months, however there was a degree in the course of the 2024 season that he was going blow for blow with Smith as the highest freshman within the nation. He had 544 yards and 6 touchdowns via Alabama’s first 5 video games. Stretching that over a full season, and factoring in anticipated enchancment as he positive aspects expertise, might result in Heisman-worthy numbers.