USC quarterback Caleb Williams is now the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, followed by Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud in what appears to be a two-man race heading into a pivotal Saturday for both players.
Williams, who was +1100 just a week ago at some sportsbooks, is now the -125 favorite with Stroud right behind him at +110. Williams will lead USC into a rivalry game against Notre Dame at the Coliseum on Saturday while Stroud will lead Ohio State into a rivalry game against Michigan at Ohio Stadium.
The race is so close that the player with the most impressive performance in a win on Saturday will likely be the favorite to win this year’s Heisman Trophy.
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his knee following a 63-38 blowout loss to South Carolina, was taken off the Heisman Trophy board at sportsbooks, leaving Williams and Stroud as the odds-on favorites.
Williams would be the first USC player since Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush to attend the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York since Leinart and Bush won the award in consecutive years in 2004 and 2005. USC quarterback Carson Palmer won the award in 2003 after being a similar long shot as Williams before beating a ranked UCLA team at the Rose Bowl, a ranked Notre Dame team at the Coliseum and leading USC to a top 5 ranking in the polls. Leinart believes Williams is already a lock to make the trip to New York after putting up a career-high 502 yards and three touchdowns in a win over UCLA on Saturday.
USC will play host to Notre Dame on Saturday ahead of the Pac-12 Championship Game in Las Vegas against Washington, Oregon or Utah. If USC wins both of those games, not only will Williams be the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy but USC will likely punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff for the first time. The College Football Playoff National Championship this season is at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., which is less than eight miles from USC.
Stetson Bennett, the quarterback for No. 1 Georgia, remains a massive longshot at +8000 both sportsbooks.
