Heisman watch: Alabama QB Jalen Milroe is now the Heisman favorite, but it’s still really, really early

Don’t let the odds fool you. The Heisman race doesn’t have a clear favorite as we enter October.

Alabama QB Jalen Milroe is down to +200 at BetMGM to win the award after a big first half in the Crimson Tide’s win over Georgia in Week 5. Milroe accounted for four of Alabama’s five touchdowns in the win as he threw for two scores — including the game-winning 75-yard TD pass to Ryan Williams — and also rushed for two touchdowns.

Milroe has now thrown or rushed for 18 touchdowns in four games. Only Miami’s Cam Ward is responsible for more, but he’s played one more game than Milroe has so far this season. Milroe is currently completing 73% of his passes and is averaging over 11 yards an attempt. If those numbers hold up throughout the entire season, he’s probably going to win the Heisman.

But Alabama is just a third of the way through its regular season schedule. The showdown between Alabama and Georgia was always going to position the winning quarterback as the Heisman frontrunner unless he had a bad game. Milroe’s position atop the board makes sense and it’s deserved. But his odds are probably too low at the moment.

A player like Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is much more tantalizing at +1000. The junior running back’s stats continue to be absurd. Jeanty has rushed 82 times for 845 yards and 13 TDs over Boise State’s first four games. Not only is he averaging more than 10 yards per carry, but he’s going for a ridiculous 15.3 yards per carry in the fourth quarter.

Jeanty rushed 26 times for 259 yards and four scores in Boise State’s Week 5 win over Washington State. He’s at a disadvantage for the Heisman because he doesn’t play in a power conference, but his profile is going to grow if he keeps getting a first down every time he touches the ball and has touchdown runs like this.

There are a few other players who are also in the mix, even if their odds are relatively high at the moment. Here are three other players we’re keeping our eye on in Week 6.

Clemson QB Cade Klubnik: It’s not Clemson’s fault that Saturday’s game against Florida State doesn’t mean as much as we thought it would at the start of the season. Klubnik has rebounded nicely from a rough start to the season against Georgia with 16 total touchdowns through five games. Klubnik is completing 67% of his passes and averaging a career-high 8.9 yards a pass after throwing for just 6.3 yards an attempt in 2023. If Clemson’s offense keeps humming, Klubnik will put up some great numbers.

Georgia QB Carson Beck: The Georgia QB’s odds are down to +3000 after his three-interception performance against the Crimson Tide. But there’s plenty of time for Beck to become one of the favorites again. Auburn should provide a great opportunity for a rebound for a frustrated Georgia team and the Bulldogs still have games against Texas and Ole Miss remaining. Until Georgia is out of the playoff mix, don’t rule out Beck.

Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith: A true freshman isn’t going to win the Heisman. But Smith would be the player if a freshman is going to win the award. He was overshadowed a bit by Ryan Williams and his amazing play against Georgia, but Smith provided two one-handed catches on one drive in the Buckeyes’ blowout win over Michigan State. Smith has 19 catches for 364 yards and five touchdowns so far through four games and is going to be the receiver that opposing defenses try to take away as Big Ten play continues.