College Football is off to the races and, with it, all of the weekly overreactions. There were several notable performances in the Week 1 slate from stars around the country. The ripple effects can be seen throughout the DraftKings SportsBook futures markets.
But perhaps no lines moved more significantly than those in the Heisman Trophy race. There is still plenty of college football to be played before the most prestigious award is decided, but there were some polarizing performances that impacted the odds in one direction or another.
Here is a breakdown of the Heisman Trophy race after the first week of college football, per DraftKings SportsBook.
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon (+700)
The opening week was not the start to the college football season that Dillon Gabriel or Oregon desired. The Heisman favorite entered the season with +600 odds on DraftKings SportsBook before the opening week matchup at home against Idaho.
Oregon was unable to produce the expected offensive explosion but still secured a 24-14 victory. Gabriel completed 41 of his 49 pass attempts in the matchup for 380 yards and a pair of touchdowns. While his raw numbers still look good, Gabriel did not live up to his lofty expectations with the eye test. As a result, his Heisman odds dropped from +600 to +700.
There is still plenty of college football to be played, and Gabriel will undoubtedly have better performances. But the opening week was not a strong showing for Oregon or their star QB.
Carson Beck, QB, Georgia (+900)
Unlike Dillon Gabriel and Oregon, Carson Beck and Georgia got off to a nearly ideal start to the college football season. The Bulldogs stomped out Clemson 34-3 looking like the best team in the country in the process. Beck completed 23 of his 33 passes for 278 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also added 19 yards on the ground.
Despite the team’s success, Beck saw his Heisman odds move from +800 to +900 following the opening week. This feels like a game that’s perception will be dependent on the remainder of the season. If Clemson can turn things around and look like a competitive college football team, this will be a strong bullet point on Beck’s Heisman resume. Based on how they looked yesterday, Clemson may just not be up to their standard this season. Not having to do more in the matchup may have hurt Beck’s odds for this week, but he will be a name to watch moving forward.
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss (+950)
The first notable riser on this list, Jaxson Dart had an impressive 2024 debut. The senior threw for 418 yards and five touchdowns while adding 27 yards and a touchdown with his legs en route to Ole Miss’ 76-0 victory over Furman. Dart held +1400 Heisman odds entering the week and climbed to +950 odds following the strong showing.
There are far more difficult matchups on the horizon that will paint a clearer picture of where Dart stacks up amongst college football’s most elite. However, Week 1 was exactly what Ole Miss and Dart supporters hoped to see. You can only beat who is in front of you and Dart put forth about as good of a performance as he possibly could.
Cam Ward, QB, Miami (+1000)
Another notable riser, Cam Ward opened some eyes in his Hurricanes debut. The Washington State transfer led Miami to a dominant 41-17 victory over cross-town rival Florida. Ward threw for 385 yards through the air, three touchdowns, and an interception along with 33 rushing yards. Ward carried himself with impressive poise and showcased why Miami should be taken a bit more seriously this year.
Ward saw his Heisman odds shift from +1500 to +1000 following the game. This is the most notable movement of the names discussed so far and he has a chance to continue climbing if he can maintain this level of play.
Nico Iamaleava, QB, Tennessee (+1200)
One of the most highly anticipated players entering this season proved to be as advertised. Nico Iamaleava played just one half of football in his 2024 debut. But this was all it took to make the necessary impression. Iamaleava completed 22 of his 28 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns. He successfully captained the offense and never put the ball in harm’s way.
Iamaleava’s strong play led Tennessee to a 69-3 victory over Chattanooga. The star quarterback entered the week with +1500 odds which dropped to +1200 following the great start. The true tests are still to come as the season progresses, but the redshirt freshman is off to a great start.
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama (+1200)
Ryan “Hollywood” Williams stole the show for Alabama, but it was Jalen Milroe who delivered him the football. The 4th-year Alabama quarterback showcased his big play ability completing seven of his nine passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns. Milroe also added 79 yards and a pair of touchdowns with his legs.
The 63-0 victory over Western Kentucky lived up to the Alabama standard in the first season under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. Milroe entered the season with +1400 odds to win the Heisman and saw this change to +1200 following the opening week. He still has some questions to be answered on his level of play but showed great improvement throughout last year and will have the opportunity to prove it ahead.
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas (+1400)
Despite Texas defeating Colorado State 52-0, Quinn Ewers saw his Heisman stock sink. Entering the season with +1200 odds, Ewers now is listed at +1400 to take home the prestigious award.
On the field, Ewers threw for 260 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. He completed passes to 10 different receivers before being replaced in the third quarter by Arch Manning. Ewers looked solid in the matchup and did what the team needed. But things are shaping up to be a tight Heisman race and he will need more notable performances moving forward to keep up with his impressive opponents.
Other Notable Line Movement:
- Will Howard (Ohio State): +1500 -> +1600
- Riley Leonard (Notre Dame): +2200 -> +3000
- Garrett Nussmeier (LSU): +2200 -> +2500
- Avery Johnson (Kansas State): +2500 -> +2500
- Shedeur Sanders (Colorado): +3500 -> +2200
- Conner Weigman (Texas A&M): +3000 -> +5500
- Miller Moss (USC): +3500 -> +3500
- Travis Hunter (Colorado): +5000 -> +2500
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
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