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We are six weeks into the 2023 college football season and the true contenders are beginning to emerge. There have been the usual suspects near the top of the rankings, but also some surprises.
We have also seen some players burst onto the national scene and create incredible buzz for their outstanding performances on the field week in and week out.
That has led to some shakeups in the race for the most prestigious award in college football: the Heisman Trophy.
Reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams of USC has been near the top of the Heisman board all season long, but as we prepare to enter Week 7 there is a new favorite in the eyes of the oddsmakers.
According to BetMGM, Washington Huskies star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is now the new favorite to take home the award at +200, narrowly leapfrogging Williams (+225).
🚨 NEW HEISMAN FAVORITE 🚨
– Michael Penix Jr. +200
– Caleb Williams +225 pic.twitter.com/O0oAvZ8Hih— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) October 9, 2023
This season, Penix, who finished 8th in Heisman voting in 2022, has thrown for 1,999 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just two interceptions for the No. 7 Huskies.
Williams, meanwhile, has thrown for 1,808 yards, 22 touchdowns, and one interception while adding six touchdowns on the ground for the No. 10 Trojans who have had close calls with the Colorado Buffaloes and Arizona Wildcats.
In Williams’ most recent game, the Trojans needed three overtimes to earn a two-point win over Arizona.
Other players who are in the mix — but need a lot of help — to win the Heisman include Oregon‘s Bo Nix, Oklahoma‘s Dillon Gabriel, Florida State’s Jordan Travis, and North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter, who has missed time due to injury, has been taken off of the board.
A full look at the current Heisman Trophy odds can be seen below, via BetMGM.
2023 Heisman Trophy Odds Entering Week 7
| PLAYER | SCHOOL | CURRENT ODDS |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Penix Jr. | Washington | +200 |
| Caleb Williams | USC | +225 |
| Bo Nix | Oregon | +600 |
| Dillon Gabriel | Oklahoma | +1200 |
| Jordan Travis | Florida State | +1600 |
| Drake Maye | North Carolina | +1600 |
| Jayden Daniels | LSU | +3000 |
| J.J. McCarthy | Michigan | +3000 |
| Blake Corum | Michigan | +4000 |
| Quinn Ewers | Texas | +5000 |
| Sam Hartman | Notre Dame | +5000 |
| Drew Allar | Penn State | +6000 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | Ohio State | +6600 |
| Carson Beck | Georgia | +8000 |
| Kyle McCord | Ohio State | +8000 |
| Shedeur Sanders | Colorado | +15000 |
| Travis Hunter | Colorado | Off the Board |
Penix will have the opportunity to continue building his Heisman resume in Week 7 when the No. 7 Huskies welcome Nix and the No. 8 Oregon Ducks to Husky Stadium in Seattle for a crucial Pac-12 clash.
ESPN College GameDay will be on the scene for the top 10 showdown, so the college football world will be paying close attention.
