2024 Heisman Odds: Quinn Ewers Enters the Offseason as the Favorite
In any sporting year, the annual chase for the Heisman Trophy regularly presents some of the most noteworthy storylines.
For 2023-24, LSU Tigers dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels set the college football landscape on fire, accounting for 50 all-purpose touchdowns en route to the award. Of course, the season prior, Caleb Williams of the USC Trojans was named Heisman. As it is now, both signal-callers have declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
The coming campaign will certainly be a new era for Division I football. Considering all the conference realignment for 2024-25 (and beyond), it can be tough to accurately gauge the looming competitive landscape.
Still, let's have an early look at next season's Heisman Trophy race. Obviously, the market is wide open, showing no clear-cut favorite.
All college football odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Lines may change after this article is published.
2024 Heisman Trophy Winner
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas (+750)
With the Texas Longhorns headed for SEC play in 2024, junior quarterback Quinn Ewers is currently the joint-favorite (+750 odds) to win next season's Heisman Trophy. Considering UT's returning cast, that seems like a fair assessment at this spot on the calendar.
In 2023, Ewers and the 'Horns dazzled to a 12-2 record, falling short at the national semifinal. Naturally, much of Texas' prowess last year was driven by Ewers' right arm.
Standing at 6-foot-3, 200+ pounds, Ewers has made great strides since arriving in Austin. From freshman to sophomore year, the San Antonio native did well to increase his season passing total by 1,300 total yards. He was also wildly efficient, producing a 22-to-6 TD-INT ratio.
Although many familiar faces from the 2023 receiving corps have departed, incoming transfer players Silan Bolden and Matthew Golden will help. Bolden will be one of the fastest wideouts in any room while Golden, formerly of the Houston Cougars, possesses incredible ball skills.
One thing is for sure: UT being a major brand coupled with the fact that they are entering the SEC will ensure a national spotlight on this team. Often, that sort of early attention is required for a Heisman surge.
Carson Beck, QB, Georgia (+750)
There won't be many programs starting the 2024 campaign with a bigger chip on collective shoulders than the Georgia Bulldogs. Over the past three years, UGA has won two national titles while defeating every opponent not named the Alabama Crimson Tide. As such, I imagine quarterback Carson Beck and the Dawgs return with a vengeance.
Well, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart will no longer have to worry about Nick Saban within the conference as the latter retired upon completion of 2023-24. But, playing in the SEC, Beck won't have many slouches on the schedule -- which he is well aware of by now.
Beck just finished his first season as starting quarterback in Athens. Returning between the hedges, the Florida native undoubtedly has unfinished business to address in his senior season.
In 2023, Beck was one of the most accurate passers in FBS. Through 417 attempts, he showcased a completion clip of 72.4%. From there, his 9.5 yards per attempt was also amongst the top figures in college football.
Of course, Beck will now navigate the offense without stars Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey, who have each declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. Still, speedster Anthony Evans and tight end Lawson Luckie should thrive in enhanced roles going forward.
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon (+1000)
As our first transfer on this list, Dillon Gabriel is on to his third program in four years. After a brilliant campaign with the Oklahoma Sooners, Gabriel heads to Eugene where he will join the Oregon Ducks.
In 2023, both the Ducks and Gabriel independently proved themselves to be top tier. UO went 12-2 in the most recent campaign, losing twice to the national runner-up Washington Huskies. For Gabriel, he represented Norman well by guiding the Sooners to a 10-3 record (including a win in the Red River Rivalry). Additionally, he compiled 30 touchdown passes along with 3,660 passing yards last year.
Having relocated to the Pacific Northwest, the former Central Florida Knights (prior to Oklahoma) quarterback is labeled with 10-to-1 odds to win the next Heisman Trophy. Moving from OU to UO, Gabriel will join another hyper-talented bunch.
The Fighting Ducks are indefinitely joining the Big Ten in 2024. With that, all eyes will be looking toward the new kids on the block. Receivers Tez Johnson and Terrance Ferguson are two of Oregon's best offensive returners; Gabriel would be wise to develop those on-field relationships ASAP.
Lest we forget the Ducks were the second-highest scoring team in Division I last year, pouring out 44.2 PPG.
Will Howard, QB, Ohio State (+1000)
Another signal-caller fresh out the portal, Will Howard is moving from the Kansas State Wildcats to the Ohio State Buckeyes as a graduate transfer.
After four seasons playing in Manhattan, KS, Howard will head to Columbus where the Buckeyes look to reclaim glory. Of course, Ohio State supporters are still down bad after the Michigan Wolverines recently won their first national title of the millennium.
In the modern era, OSU has been a perpetual talent factory for the NFL, but especially so for wide receivers. Notably, Marvin Harrison Jr. is headed for the 2024 NFL Draft, but the Buckeyes will look to five-star freshman Jeremiah Smith; the 6-foot-3 wideout was one of the most sought after offensive prospects of the last recruiting cycle. From there, playmaker Emeka Egbuka will be back to help acclimate Howard into the offense.
In Columbus, head coach Ryan Day will be back for another campaign. Still, with three consecutive losses to "that team up north," there will be added pressure on the Buckeyes in 2024. If Howard is the quarterback to Ohio State back to more dominant form, he'll certainly receive favorable attention in this market.
Showing +1000 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, can Howard be OSU's first Heisman winner since Troy Smith in 2006-07?
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