Heisman Watch: Ranking the Top 5 Heisman Odds Candidates Heading into Week 10

Heisman Watch: Ranking the Top 5 Heisman Odds Candidates Heading into Week 10

We're nearing the final stretch in the hunt for the Heisman trophy as the college football race for glory begins to take shape through conference play. As the Oregon Ducks have flown to the top of the rankings, so has star QB Dillon Gabriel as he rises in the Heisman odds and tries to separate himself from the pack.

Previous leader Ashton Jeanty struggled a bit against UNLV, while Dillon Gabriel and Cam Ward took care of business and gained steadily in the race. But Travis Hunter was the true star, and that's why you'll find him at the top of the list this week. Can he do enough to win it and hold off fierce chargers from his opponents?

Before you make your Week 10 college football picks, make sure you read our Heisman Watch list and get in on the Heisman odds action before all the favorites are too short to bet.

Heisman Odds

This week's Heisman odds look a bit different, after Travis Hunter soared to the top of the odds board this week. He delivered a dominating performance against Cincinnati on both sides of the ball, and flew from +800 to +200 to become the new favorite.

Ashton Jeanty, Dillon Gabriel, and Cam Ward are all still very much in the mix, and the next few games are going to determine everything in this tightly-contested race. Let's break down the latest Heisman odds and take a look at the upcoming chaos for these top candidates.

Heisman Watch: Top 5 Heisman Odds

1. Travis Hunter - Colorado WR/CB (+200)

Travis Hunter has soared up the leaderboard to the top spot after serious doubts in the previous weeks. Just two games ago, Hunter was back at +800 odds and banged-up, with critics saying he wasn't doing enough on offense. He silenced the haters with 150 yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati last week, while shutting down several receivers on defense. The both sides play is obviously his most impressive aspect, but he won't be able to win this without continuing to produce on offense. He currently has 750 yards and eight touchdowns through eight games, and it is understood that he was getting reduced reps due to nagging injuries during part of this. But by comparison, DeVonta Smith won the Heisman as a receiver in the abbreviated 2020 season, putting up 1500 yards and 17 touchdowns in 11 games. Hunter won't need that same amount with his defensive additions, but he'll be expected to stack around five more touchdowns and another heaping of yards in order to cement this award.

2. Dillon Gabriel - Oregon QB (+250)

Dillon Gabriel started the season at the top of the Heisman odds at +700, and he is on the cusp of finding himself back at the top of the list. He's been the best quarterback in college football after transferring to his third school in the Oregon Ducks, and his veteran experience is showing each week. The Ducks started a little slow and were almost upset, but are rolling now. They are 8-0 with three ranked wins, and most of the rest of their victories are coming by 20+ point blowouts. Gabriel has put up similar stats to Cam Ward, albeit with a few less passing yards and TDs as he's played better defenses and spent less time trailing in games. The wins are more important than 300 passing yards at the end of the day, and Gabriel has the most impressive resume on the top ranked team. All he has to do is continue to lead the Ducks to four more victories, and he will be head-to-head with Travis Hunter. It'll likely come down to if Colorado can also continue to win and if Hunter can score multiple touchdowns per game.

3. Cameron Ward - Miami QB (+300)

Cam Ward is still sitting in the middle of this upper group, but isn't able to get over the hump. Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty are two of the more unique college football players of the last decade. Jeanty is putting up ridiculous stats, while Hunter is playing both sides of the ball with great success. In years past, the Heisman has almost always been a QB award, and Ward would definitely be at the top in one of those typical situations. But Miami hasn't played many great teams, and won't see a single ranked team on their regular season schedule. Ward can continue putting up video game numbers and go undefeated, but he's not going to pass over Dillon Gabriel doing the exact same thing at Oregon against better Big Ten teams. Ward probably isn't winning without a severe drop off from his competitors, even if he continues to carry the Hurricanes.

4. Ashton Jeanty - Boise State RB (+450)

Ashton Jeanty was the clear leader in the race for several weeks, but his odds took a bit of a tumble after Week 9. Jeanty still ran for over 125 yards, but he struggled in his yards per attempt and was often bottled up against a solid UNLV squad. He only had one touchdown on 33 carries, after scoring multiple touchdowns in every other full game that he played. Viewers were used to seeing Jeanty bounce off tacklers and fly down the sideline like Derrick Henry, but he wasn't able to do so against a tougher opponent. He still has five games to impress, but he's going to have to get back to running closer to 200 yards and stack more touchdowns if he wants to stay competitive with Travis Hunter and other unique candidates.

5. Cade Klubnik - Clemson QB (+1500)

This is down to a four-man race at best, but Cade Klubnik is the last candidate that is even somewhat close in the latest odds. Every other player behind him is at +4000 or more. Klubnik is not someone we expected on this list at the beginning of the year, but he has proven himself to be a formidable player after a rough start in Week 1. He struggled last year as the Tigers lost four games, but he is advancing nicely as Dabo Swinney's squad has won six straight after the loss to Georgia. Klubnik has a lot of impressing to do if he's going to touch any of these top-four, but the season is only half over and there is a lot of football left. He will try to prove himself further when the Tigers host Louisville as a 10-point favorite in Death Valley tomorrow.