Heisman Trophy Odds and Favorites: Caleb Williams and Max Duggan in a Two-Horse Race

There’s just one more weekend of college football until the winner of the 2022 Heisman Trophy is announced. What are the latest Heisman Trophy odds, who are the favorites, and what should you watch out for in Week 14?

Heisman Trophy Odds Heading Into Week 14 of College Football

Then there were two. Following an exciting weekend of action that shook up the established order at the top of college football, two teams that are challenging the recent elite also provide the two Heisman Trophy odds favorites with just Championship Weekend left before the winner of the award for the most outstanding player in the sport is announced in New York.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams hasn’t entertained ideas of personal grandeur throughout the 2022 college football season. The former Oklahoma quarterback transferred to Southern California alongside head coach Lincoln Riley to bring success back to the Trojans and restore the Pac-12 to the College Football Playoff.

As he put his team on the precipice of a place it hasn’t been in the CFP era, the young Trojan allowed himself a brief moment of individual indulgence. Following a five-yard touchdown run in the second quarter of USC’s 38-27 win over Notre Dame, Williams imitated the famous Heisman Trophy pose on the Trojans’ sideline.

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In the immediate aftermath of a win that should see USC secure a place in the top four of the latest College Football Playoff rankings, Williams insisted that his teammates had encouraged the celebration. However, there’s no mistaking that with his performances over the last two weeks, the Trojans’ QB has put himself in the driver’s seat to bring back the Heisman Trophy to USC for the first time since 2005.

Astonishingly, Williams was at his best in USC’s biggest game of the season so far. Notre Dame could only watch on in wonderment as the new Heisman Trophy odds favorite performed continual acts of Houdini-like escapology. His ability to scramble away from seeming disaster evoked images of Patrick Mahomes and FSU-era Jameis Winston.

The USC quarterback was an unstoppable force who carried the Trojans to an 11th win of the season with three touchdown runs. Having opened the scoring with a TD pass to Tahj Washington on another play where he utilized his magnificent maneuverability to evade pressure, Williams finished with 267 total yards and four touchdowns.

The numbers might not be gaudy, but it was undoubtedly a performance worthy of the Heisman Trophy odds favorite.

Can Max Duggan Unseat Williams as the Heisman Trophy Odds Favorite?

Can the fairytale story of the 2022 college football season have the happiest of endings when the Heisman Trophy ceremony unfolds in New York in a little under two weeks’ time?

If you placed money on TCU heading to the College Football Playoff with Max Duggan being the Heisman Trophy winner ahead of the season, the odds are that you’ll be exceptionally rich if both events come to fruition.

With odds of +3000 on DraftKings Sportsbook, Duggan is still very much an underdog to win the Heisman Trophy compared to Williams. Nevertheless, Duggan is a legitimate contender in his own right as he continues to propel the Horned Frogs toward their first Big 12 title since 2014.

TCU hasn’t had a Heisman winner since Davey O’Brien lifted the award in 1938. But after an incredible season that has seen Duggan named as a semifinalist for the national quarterback of the year award that bears the name of the former Horned Frog legend, their current signal-caller has a genuine argument to be made for his inclusion to the award for the most outstanding player in CFB.

After carving up Iowa State in a statement 62-14 win, Duggan is the only legitimate contender to Williams. A sustained season of excellence has seen the TCU QB register career highs for passing yards (3,070), total touchdowns (35), completion percentage (66.6%), and passing yards per attempt (9.2).

Duggan has achieved success despite being battered and bloodied, persevering and producing game-winning plays, even when tasked with coming from behind in multiple games this season. In many respects, the TCU quarterback meets the mantra of college football’s award for the most outstanding player over any other remaining contender following the final week of the regular season.

What To Watch for in Week 14 of College Football

With Championship Weekend upon us, what should we be watching for from a Heisman Trophy perspective? As is usual this late in the season, DraftKings has a shortened list of odds for Heisman Trophy contenders.

Amongst them, long-running favorite C.J. Stroud (+4000), Michael Penix Jr. (+10000), and Bryce Young (+20000) won’t play again before the ceremony on Dec. 12 since their respective teams missed out on the conference championships.

Young produced a sensational performance in the Iron Bowl win over Auburn that was reminiscent of his Heisman-winning form from last season. However, after a subpar season from the Crimson Tide, he’s unlikely to be a repeat winner of the award.

Williams, meanwhile, will be the first Heisman Trophy contender to watch in college football Week 14. The Trojans face Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday night, a repeat of their regular-season clash that remains the only stain on USC’s 2022 season. Williams threw for 381 yards and five touchdowns in the 43-42 loss. A repeat performance but a different result could cement his standing as the Heisman Trophy favorite.

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Last time TCU took on Kansas State, Duggan struck three times, including a 55-yard touchdown to Quentin Johnston late in the third quarter to help the Horned Frogs come from behind and keep their unbeaten record intact. They meet again in the Big 12 Championship this weekend, with TCU’s place in the College Football Playoff and Duggan’s Heisman Trophy campaign both on the line.

As has been the case for most of the season, Stetson Bennett will lead Georgia in the SEC Championship Game with little Heisman Trophy fanfare despite being one of the few remaining contenders with odds from DraftKings. Bennett has outstripped his passing yards production (3,151) from his title-winning campaign already this year, but still receives little national love ahead of the Bulldogs’ clash with LSU.

The most open Heisman Trophy competition in recent history will be decided in a little under two weeks’ time. At this moment, Williams appears to have the award for the most outstanding player in college football locked up. However, we’ve seen stranger things happen than an outsider winning in this craziest of CFB seasons.

Current Heisman Trophy Odds

All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook, where you can grab a bet $5, win $200 offer right now.

• Caleb Williams, QB, USC -3000
• Max Duggan, QB, TCU +3000
• C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State +4000
• Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia +10000
• Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington +10000
• Bryce Young, QB, Alabama +20000