US LBM Coaches Poll: Penn State drops after Oregon loss
USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg breaks down the latest US LBM Coaches Poll and Penn State’s tough loss to Oregon.
As the calendar rolls over into October, the Heisman Trophy race is starting to heat up.
The race for college football’s most prestigious individual award has undergone another notable shakeup going into Week 6 of the season — including a new favorite to win the award on Saturday, Dec. 13, in New York City.
That leader for Week 6, according to oddsmakers at BetMGM at least, is Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who is coming off an impressive win in hostile territory at then-No. 2 Penn State.
As was the case last week, Ohio State star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the only non-quarterback listed in the top 10 of the Heisman Trophy betting odds. The 6-foot-3 wide receiver had an 18-yard touchdown catch in the top-ranked Buckeyes’ Week 5 win over Washington.
And, as was the case for Week 5, there isn’t much separation between Moore and the rest of the field. Here’s a look at the top contenders for the 2025 Heisman Trophy going into Week 6:
Who is Heisman Trophy favorite entering Week 6?
Moore is the favorite to win the Heisman entering Week 6, with BetMGM listing him at +750 odds to take home the trophy. That follows a game in which he led the fifth-ranked Ducks to a 30-24 double overtime win vs. Penn State in a nationally televised top-five battle on the road.
The 6-foot-3 quarterback completed 29 of 39 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns against the Nittany Lions, and his third touchdown pass of the night — a 25-yard dot to Gary Bryant Jr. in the second overtime period — proved to be the game-winner in Oregon’s second Big Ten road game of the season.
That performance improved his odds from +1000 in Week 5 to +750 in Week 6.
Moore has now thrown for at least three touchdowns in four of his first five games as Oregon’s starting quarterback, and ranks fourth among Division I quarterbacks with 14 touchdown passes on the season.
The former five-star recruit is looking to become the first Oregon player to win the Heisman Trophy since Marcus Mariota in 2014. He would also be the fourth quarterback in the last five years to win the Heisman, with the lone exception being Travis Hunter last season.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson soars into top three after Georgia win
This time last week, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson wasn’t featured in the top 10 odds to win the Heisman Trophy.
Following a win against No. 3 Georgia on the road, the Crimson Tide’s first-year starter has now soared to near the top of the board. He enters Week 6 tied with Smith for the third-best odds at +1000, per BetMGM.
Simpson completed 24 of 38 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns in Alabama’s win against Georgia. He also added a 2-yard rushing touchdown just before halftime to put Alabama up 24-14.
Texas QB Arch Manning knocking on door of top 10
Arch Manning’s first season as the full-time starting quarterback at Texas has been a rollercoaster after he was considered the preseason favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. The 6-foot-4 quarterback has completed 61.3% of his passes in four games while throwing for 888 yards and nine touchdowns.
Despite his early struggles, Arch Manning — the nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning — sits outside the top 10 odds to win the Heisman, at +2000. A strong start against Florida on Saturday, Oct. 4 could move him up the odds lists.
Heisman Trophy odds entering Week 6
Here’s a look at the top 10 best odds to win the Heisman Trophy entering Week 6:
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, Oct. 1.
1. Dante Moore, Oregon QB (+750)2. Carson Beck, Miami QB (+900)T-3. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State WR (+1000)T-3. Ty Simpson, Alabama QB (+1000)T-5. Fernando Mendoza, Oregon QB (+1300)T-5. Joey Aguilar, Tennessee QB (+1300)T-7. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M QB (+1500)T-7. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt QB (+1500)T-7. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss QB (+1500)10. Julian Sayin, Ohio State QB (+1700)