As the college football season heats up, several players have separated themselves from the pack as Heisman contenders.
The latest: C.J. Stroud has been lighting it up at Ohio State and Hendon Hooker has Tennessee back in the national spotlight. Those two are tied as +110 favourites. Meanwhile, Caleb Williams is ushering in a new era of USC football and Bo Nix has been torching the Pac-12.
Here are the latest Heisman Trophy odds through Week 9.
Heisman Trophy odds
Check out the latest odds to win the Heisman. Click linked odds to add selection to betslip.
| Player | Odds (Oct. 31) | Odds (Oct. 24) | Preseason odds |
| Hendon Hooker | +110 | +200 | +4,000 |
| C.J. Stroud | +110 | -125 | +175 |
| Blake Corum | +1,200 | +1,000 | N/A |
| Caleb Williams | +1,400 | +800 | +750 |
| Bo Nix | +2,500 | +4,000 | N/A |
| Max Duggan | +3,300 | +3,300 | N/A |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | +3,300 | N/A | N/A |
| Drake Maye | +3,300 | N/A | N/A |
| Bryce Young | +4,000 | +1,800 | +350 |
| Brock Bowers | +4,000 | +4,000 | N/A |
Odds as of 3:10 p.m. on 10/31/2022.
Best Heisman Trophy odds
The favourites: C.J. Stroud (+110) and Hendon Hooker (+110)
Let's start with Stroud. The Ohio State product finished fourth in last year's Heisman voting and is the co-favourite to take home the trophy through seven games.
It's hard to argue against Stroud being a viable candidate. After a redshirt season, he won the job as Ohio State's starting quarterback and never looked back. Take a look at the video game-like numbers he put up as a freshman and how he's followed it up this year:
| Season | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
| 2021-22 | 71.9% | 4,435 | 44 | 6 | 91.6 |
| 2022-23 | 71.3% | 2,377 | 29 | 4 | 93.1 |
Stroud's QBR of 93.1 is the best mark in the nation, and he's also tied for the lead with 29 touchdowns. He had seven games with four-plus TD passes last year and already has five this season.
Stroud had a quiet game — by his standards — against Penn State last week. He only threw for 354 yards with one touchdown in a 44-31 win.
Now to Hooker. He led the Tennessee Volunteers to their first win over the rival Alabama Crimson Tide since 2006 and followed that up by blowing out No. 19 Kentucky two weeks later. The Vols are undefeated through eight games and are now ranked T-2 in the nation (with Ohio State).
TENNESSEE TAKES DOWN ALABAMA AND THE FANS ARE STORMING THE FIELD AT NEYLAND STADIUM.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 15, 2022
WHAT A WIN FOR THE VOLS. pic.twitter.com/1MkxrkyxBA
The senior has thrown for 2,338 yards, with 21 touchdowns and just one interception. His 91.2 QBR is second in the nation. To say he's changed the way people view Tennessee would be an understatement.
What we like most about Hooker is his clutch factor. He has thrown for a combined 1,543 yards and 14 touchdowns in Tennessee's four games versus ranked opponents while rushing for an additional 269 yards and two scores.
If Hooker can keep winning big games — like the one Tennessee has in Georgia this week — expect him to have a seat in New York for the Heisman ceremony.
Other Heisman choices
Best value: Caleb Williams (+1,400)
It seems as though this is a two-horse race, but we still like the value Williams holds.
After emerging as one of the top quarterbacks in college football, Williams garnered national attention for leaving Oklahoma and going to USC with coach Lincoln Riley.
He's thrown for 2,382 yards with 24 touchdowns and one interception through eight games. Williams' 85.8 passer rating is good for ninth in the nation. The quarterback has scampered for 249 yards and three touchdowns as well.
This escape and run from Caleb Williams🤯
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) October 2, 2022
📽️: ESPN pic.twitter.com/lsxcOYf6ar
Williams has really poured it on lately. He's thrown for 792 yards and 10 touchdowns in his past two games with zero turnovers, which is insane.
USC will need to win out and make the playoff if Williams is going to hoist this trophy, but that's certainly possible considering the level he's playing at.
Player to watch: Bo Nix (+2,500)
Nix was getting clowned after Oregon's brutal Week 1 performance against the reigning national champions. The Georgia Bulldogs beat the Ducks, 48-3, and Nix threw two picks in that game.
He's done an incredible job of blocking out the noise since then.
The journeyman quarterback transferred from Auburn this offseason and now has the Ducks at 7-1. He's thrown for 20 touchdowns and 2,221 yards and has added an absurd 11 rushing touchdowns. His 31 total TDs are second behind only UNC's Drake Maye.
Nix and Co. have four games remaining, including two against ranked opponents (No. 12 Utah and No. 24 Oregon St.).
If they win out, a date in the Pac-12 championship awaits. If they win that, and Nix continues to dominate, anything is possible.