- Dante Moore is the new Heisman favorite: The Oregon quarterback is the new Heisman Trophy favorite following a gutsy performance in the win over third-ranked Penn State.
- Ty Simpson moves into second: The Alabama quarterback launches into second place after the Crimson Tide’s road win over No. 5 Georgia.
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As we near the midway point of the 2025 college football season, the Heisman race is heating up.
Here’s a breakdown of the current five favorites to win the bronze stiff-arm according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
QB Dante Moore, Oregon (+750)
Moore takes over as the new Heisman favorite following Oregon’s thrilling 30-24 double overtime road victory over third-ranked Penn State this past week. Moore posted an impressive 79.5 passing grade in the win with a season-high 85.7% adjusted completion rate. The redshirt sophomore had no pulse in the “White Out,” posting a 92.2 passing grade on third/fourth down.
Moore’s 81.7% adjusted completion rate on the season is third in the Power Four, while his 88.9 passing grade is seventh in the country. He has a chance to cement his status as the Heisman Trophy favorite in a couple of weeks against a top-10 opponent in Indiana.
QB Ty Simpson, Alabama (+850)
Like Moore, Simpson was outstanding in a road victory over a top-five opponent this past weekend. The redshirt junior posted a 78.8 PFF grade in Alabama’s 24-21 victory over Georgia.
Simpson has been phenomenal from a clean pocket this year, placing fifth among all quarterbacks in the nation with a 92.4 PFF grade in such situations. Simpson has thrown 11 touchdowns when kept clean with no interceptions. He and No. 10 Alabama have a massive game this week against No. 16 Vanderbilt.
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State (+1000)
Smith is the only non-quarterback in the top-10 of Heisman odds right now. The true sophomore had a touchdown catch for the third consecutive week in top-ranked Ohio State’s 24-6 win over Washington. His four receiving touchdowns on the season are a top-15 mark in the FBS, while his 396 receiving yards are 19th. Smith also has a 17-yard rushing touchdown this season. He takes on a Minnesota secondary this week that plays man coverage at a top-15 rate in the country (43.2%).
QB Carson Beck, Miami (FL) (+1100)
Beck and Miami were off this past weekend. However, he has a chance to vault up the Heisman odds, as the Hurricanes play in arguably the biggest game of Week 6 as third-ranked Miami travels to No. 18 Florida State. Beck’s numbers don’t jump off the page, but he’s been efficient with the 11th-best completion rate in the country (73.2%).
QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (+1200)
It certainly wasn’t pretty, but Indiana survived an upset scare from Iowa this past weekend by winning 20-15 on the road. With just a 65.2 passing grade in the win, Mendoza moved from the Heisman favorite to fifth in odds. His 86.0 passing grade on the season is still a top-20 mark in the country, while his 16 touchdown passes are tied for second. Mendoza also leads the Power Four with a 138.7 passer rating.
