College football’s preseason Heisman Trophy odds ahead of the 2024 campaign have been updated this summer via FanDuel Sportsbook with several surprising revisions, including a few top-tier quarterbacks who have moved out of the elite tier.
As is the case in the Heisman picture during the transfer portal era, several multi-year Power conference starters are playing elsewhere this fall, including Will Howard (Ohio State), Cameron Ward (Miami) and Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) — all becoming the new faces at respective league title contenders. Various factors define every Heisman contender’s path to New York, but eye-popping passing numbers and being the star of a team in the national conversation are the most important factors.
With College Football Playoff expansion, the number of contenders should increase down the stretch unless there’s a player who separates himself from the rest of the pack early with a noteworthy season.
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Here are the 10 players with odds sitting at +2200 or better in June prior to the start of the 2024 season:
Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
FanDuel Sportsbook odds: Was +750; Now +750
Carson Beck, who announced his return for another year at Georgia after the Bulldogs’ 60-point Orange Bowl win over Florida State, recorded the second-most passing yards (3,941) in a single season in program history last fall and his completion rate of 72.4 was one of the nation’s best. Beck started with 11-straight games eclipsing 250 yards passing, the same number Stetson Bennett had in 15 games during the 2022 season. In the SEC Championship Game loss to Alabama, Beck completed 21 passes on 29 attempts for 243 yards with a rushing touchdown.
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
FanDuel Sportsbook odds: Was +750; Now +900
Quinn Ewers returns in hopes of bringing the Longhorns a national championship as one of the nation’s top teams in 2024. Last season was Ewers’ best as a collegian after throwing for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns. Ewers is the first of several signal-callers in the expanded SEC who will be a forward-facing superstar of the sport, per updated Heisman odds. His 452-yard, four-touchdown effort in the Big 12 Championship Game was a career best. Texas added several high-end portal pass-catchers and Ewers has five-star Arch Manning waiting in the wings behind him.
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
FanDuel Sportsbook odds: Was +1000; Now +1000
Following two statistically-impressive years at Oklahoma, Dillon Gabriel is on the move again for the third time in his lengthy college career, this time wrapping things up with the Ducks. He might be a Bo Nix-clone in terms of extending plays. Oregon reloaded with weaponry around the quarterback position, highlighted by a recent commitment from former five-star Texas A&M signee Evan Stewart, one of this cycle’s top receiving threats in the portal. UCLA transfer Dante Moore is behind him on the depth chart.
Will Howard, QB, Ohio State
FanDuel Sportsbook odds: Was +1000; Now +1300
Former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard made his debut inside the Heisman’s top five with FanDuel’s eary-January update after transferring to Ohio State, but hasn’t been named the Buckeyes’ starter just yet. There’s a certain amount of statistical expectations that go into playing quarterback for Ryan Day and Ohio State and oddsmakers seem to know it. And considering Ohio State is bringing back Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson and welcome Ole Miss star Quinshon Judkins to the offense, this unit should flourish under Howard’s direction. In two seasons as Kansas State’s starter, Howard threw 39 touchdown passes and ran for another 12 scores.
Nico Iamaleava, QB, Tennessee
FanDuel Sportsbook odds: Was +150; Now +1500
Nico Iamaleava is wise beyond his years, evidenced by his performance in Tennessee’s Citrus Bowl win over Iowa as a first-time freshman starter. Taking over for Joe Milton following his NFL Draft entry, Iamaleava dissected an elite defense with fluidity, showcasing notable arm strength, accuracy and an ability to evade pressure. All those things are imperative for a Vols offense in 2024 that will be predicated on timing and rhythm. Iamaleava could have a Hendon Hooker-like season if Tennessee’s wide receiver group pans out with Bru McCoy leading the charge as the squad’s top returner at the position.
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
FanDuel Sportsbook odds: Was +850; Now +1500
Oddsmakers have officially given Jalen Milroe the darkhorse label given this substantial change in summer Heisman odds from his pre-spring opening. Alabama’s first-year starter last season helped the Crimson Tide win 11-straight games to reach the playoff, that coming after a Week 2 loss to Texas led to a temporary benching from Nick Saban. Milroe tossed 19 touchdown passes while rushing for 10 additional scores over that final stretch. The dual-threat figures to be the top-returning player offensively for a team that is inside the top 10 favorites to win a national championship despite losing several key contributors to the transfer portal.
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
FanDuel Sportsbook odds: Was +1800; Now +1500
Jaxson Dart is back for his senior season at Ole Miss coming off an 11-win campaign. Dart improved substantially as a passer with 23 touchdowns and five interceptions while managing a career-best 65.1% completion rate. Dart held off Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders for QB1 in fall camp and never looked back in his second season as the Rebels’ starter. In the expanded SEC next fall, Dart is one of the league’s top returning players at the position and should get more play as a passer with star running back Quinshon Judkins entering the portal.
Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
FanDuel Sportsbook odds: Was +1800; Now +1800
Given LSU’s production at the quarterback position last season under elite offensive coaching this season, you can expect Garrett Nussmeier to flex impressive numbers next fall. Quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan has done a marvelous job with his room in Baton Rouge. The Tigers need pass-catchers to emerge following the exits of Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., but LSU expects several portal additions to assist there, including Liberty star wideout CJ Daniels. Nussmeier waited his turn behind Daniels and has impressed in spots throughout his career, including his showing in the ReliaQuest Bowl win over Wisconsin.
Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame
FanDuel Sportsbook odds: Was +2000; Now +2000
Former Duke star Riley Leonard was the first major quarterback domino to fall in the 2024 transfer cycle after committing to the Fighting Irish. One of the 2024’s best available, Leonard battled through an injury this season and arrives in South Bend with 24 career touchdown passes and, at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, is an ideal fit in Notre Dame’s offense schematically. He did miss the spring, so there’s some possible concern. This marks the second-consecutive season Notre Dame has tapped the portal for its new QB1 after landing accomplished Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman last January.
Cam Ward, QB, Miami
FanDuel Sportsbook odds: Was +2000; Now +2200
In Miami’s revised Air Raid attack, this former Washington State star has a chance to take the ACC by storm as the league’s leading passer against the likes of several other top-end transfers — Grayson McCall at NC State and DJ Uiagalelei at Florida State. Cam Ward was one of the most-coveted transfers this cycle and the Hurricanes were able to convince him to skip the 2024 NFL Draft for another year in the collegiate ranks, making Miami a serious threat to win the conference and get to the playoff.
