A Record-Wide Field
The 2026 Heisman race is shaping up as one of the most open in modern memory. Per ESPN's review of DraftKings odds on September 2, CJ Carr (Notre Dame QB) leads at 7-1, followed by Arch Manning (Texas QB, 15-2), Dante Moore (Oregon, 11-1) and Darian Mensah (Miami, 11-1). ESPN Research notes Carr's 7-1 is the longest-odds favorite entering any of the last 20 seasons — a sign of how fragmented the field is.
The Numbers
Six additional contenders sit at 15-1 or better: Julian Sayin (Ohio State, 12-1), Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss, 13-1), Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State WR, 14-1), Josh Hoover (Indiana, 15-1), Sam Leavitt (BYU, 20-1) and Gunner Stockton (BYU, 21-1). Smith holds the shortest odds of any non-QB since 2013.
The Betting Split
Nearly half (49%) of all DraftKings Heisman bets go to Carr or Manning, with the two quarterbacks attracting roughly equal volume. That split is driven by two compelling narratives: Carr's win-now schedule at Notre Dame (11.5 win total, one genuine road test at Miami on November 7) versus Manning's family legacy quest — the first Manning to win the Heisman.
Seamus Magee of BetMGM put it plainly: 'It's all so narrative driven, and the odds fluctuate, in many cases, dramatically throughout the year. You really need to have a pulse on the media narratives and the individual game-by-game case for each player.'
What This Means for CFB 27
For CFB 27 Dynasty, Jeremiah Smith (99-rated WR in the game's data) is already the highest-rated non-QB in the nation, which aligns with the real-world Heisman odds treating him as a serious top-7 contender. Moore's Oregon and Carr's Notre Dame rosters are both loaded, making them safe dynasty targets through the early-season volatility.
