Heisman odds for Manning, Klubnik dip following disappointing starts

Tanking NFL teams that planned to find a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft might have to think twice. A few weeks into the collegiate season, the quarterback play has been, well, less than optimal.

Some of the biggest names haven't come close to meeting their (perhaps unfair) preseason hype, completely shuffling the Heisman race with no clear front-runner emerging.

Heisman Trophy odds

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Arch Manning and Cade Klubnik entered the season as co-Heisman favorites at +600. Through three weeks, both have tumbled down the oddsboard and out of the top 10. Manning is still in the top 15 at +3000, but Klubnik has fallen all the way to +10000 on ESPN BET and theScore Bet.

Let's start with Peyton and Eli's nephew, who was heralded as a generational prospect. Fans saw limited doses of Manning in his two seasons as a backup, but this was his first year as Texas' offensive leader.

The promotion was clearly more about his last name than his mechanics. Manning hasn't resembled a top prospect through three games, two of which came against poor competition. In the opener against Ohio State, Manning recorded a 55 quarterback rating and a 56% completion percentage, and many of his routine throws were wildly off target. But it wasn't unfathomable that he'd play poorly on the road against the defending champs, who feature one of the nation's best defenses. It's the subsequent two weeks that really raised eyebrows.

While his statistics were better against San Jose State in Week 2, Manning continued to miss throws and look uncomfortable in the pocket. His worst outing came last weekend against UTEP, where he completed just 44% of his passes and posted a 26 QBR. He's thrown an interception in every game.

He's shown flashes of his athleticism and exceptional arm strength, but he's mostly looked overwhelmed running an offense. Manning will have plenty of opportunities to change the public perception of him, which has shifted 180 degrees from a month ago when most people expected immediate greatness. For now, Manning's Heisman bid looks as shaky as Billy Napier's job security at Florida. He has received more Heisman tickets on ESPN BET and theScore Bet than any other player, with most of those coming before the season began.

Klubnik led Clemson to an ACC title and the College Football Playoff while throwing for over 3,600 yards, 36 touchdowns, and only six interceptions last season. However, his production and Clemson's offense have sputtered to start this campaign, leaving Clemson in a 1-2 hole. Klubnik is completing less than 60% of his passes and has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns. The Tigers have a favorable schedule in a weak ACC, but they've already lost to LSU and Georgia Tech and struggled against Troy. Clemson might not win enough games for Klubnik to even qualify for the Heisman.

With Manning and Klubnik effectively out of the race, who's in?

New front-runners

Garrett Nussmeier had the third-best odds (+900) entering the season, but they've lengthened slightly; LSU's offense hasn't been as prolific as anticipated despite its 3-0 start. Although he makes some boneheaded throws, Nussmeier's talent is undeniable. He'll have plenty of chances to make his Heisman case in prime-time matchups with LSU's daunting upcoming schedule.

South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers and Penn State's Drew Allar were popular selections before the season. However, Sellers' status is uncertain after he left last week's loss with a head injury. He's earned more money on the Heisman market than any other player. Penn State has played as weak a schedule as any school, hurting Allar's early-season bid.

Oklahoma is off to a 3-0 start, largely because of quarterback John Mateer. Unsurprisingly, Mateer has garnered the most Heisman bets since he became the favorite last week, receiving 13% of bets on the market. The current Heisman favorite has been spectacular, but now's the time to sell his stock. Mateer's only marquee win is over Michigan, and the Sooners have a challenging schedule with Auburn, Texas, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama, and LSU lurking.

Miami's impressive resume includes wins over Notre Dame and South Florida. Carson Beck has revived his stock after a down season at Georgia and he's leading the country in completion percentage. Miami has a path to the playoffs, which means Beck has a path to the Heisman.

Sam Oshtry is a sports writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.

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