2026 Heisman Trophy, odds: Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the new favorite

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith put on a spectacular performance against Illinois on Saturday, racking up 12 catches for 217 yards and four — yes, four — touchdowns in a 42-19 win for No. 5 Ohio State. Smith has at least five catches and 85 yards in every game this season, and seven total TDs.

Oddsmakers have installed Smith (+275 at BetMGM) as the new betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy as a result.

Smith entered the weekend’s games with 10-1 odds, but jumped several players, including Miami quarterback Darian Mensah and Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss — who were the co-favorites to win the Heisman at BetMGM entering Week 4.

Smith currently has the most wagers (9.2%) and most money wagered (18.2%) of any player to win the Heisman at BetMGM, and represents the sportsbook’s biggest liability. Only one wide receiver (Alabama‘s Devonta Smith in 2020) has won the Heisman since 1992.

Mensah (+400) has the second-best odds and has been impressive early on, throwing eight touchdowns and leading No. 4-ranked Miami to a 4-0 record.

Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor opened with 150-1 odds to win the Heisman and has shot up all the way to +700 (third-best odds) after a strong start to the season. Taylor is tied for the lead in college football with 14 TD passes, and Mississippi State owns a 4-0 record, heading into a showdown with No. 7 Alabama on Saturday.

Notre Dame QB CJ Carr — the preseason Heisman favorite — has 12-1 odds, while Texas QB Arch Manning has dropped all the way to 30-1 .