The Heisman Trophy is annually awarded to the most outstanding player in college football and recent winners have done the illustrious award justice. Although winning the Heisman doesn’t always project future success (several winners have gone undrafted), three of the previous five victors (Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield, and Kyler Murray) were selected with the No. 1 overall selection in their respective draft. Last year’s winner was Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who returns to the Crimson Tide for what should be another excellent campaign in 2022, and may possibly find himself in contention to become the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The prestigious Alabama program has actually captured the Heisman award in back-to-back seasons following DeVonta Smith’s triumph in 2020. As we begin looking ahead to the impending college football season, several high-level performers and future NFL draft hopefuls are expected to compete for the 2022 Heisman. Unlike last season, the field is expected to be dominated by quarterbacks, with several gunslinging signal-callers expected to enjoy fruitful campaigns.

With that said, the college football futures prop betting landscape for the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is officially starting to take shape. BetOnline doesn’t waste any time, and they’ve already updated the exciting odds. The top 10 shakes out as follows:

C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State (+275)
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama (+600)
Caleb Williams, QB, USC (+900)
Will Anderson Jr, EDGE, Alabama (+1400)
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama (+1400)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State (+2200)
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas (+2800)
Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida (+1400)
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss (+1800)
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oklahoma (+1800)

The current landscape certainly qualifies as particularly intriguing. The BetOnline oddsmakers certainly expect a quarterback to capture this honor, and we’re inclined to agree with that expectation. Quarterbacks have predominantly secured this award historically, so it’s no surprise to see the top-10 favorites littered with six quarterbacks. We’ve compiled some thoughts below.

THE FAVORITE AND MY PICK: C.J. STROUD, QB, OHIO STATE

The fourth-place finisher in 2021 behind Bryce Young, Aidan Hutchinson, and Kenny Pickett, Ohio State starting quarterback C.J. Stroud enters the 2022 college football campaign as the favorite to capture the Heisman honor and it’s easy to understand why. Stroud was absolutely electric as a freshman throughout the 2021 college football season. The California native completed 71.9% of his passing attempts en route to totaling 4,435 passing yards and a staggering 44 touchdown passes versus just six interceptions in 12 regular-season appearances.

Stroud returns to Ohio State for 2022 with another year of experience under his belt and a plethora of high-level weapons at his disposal. Stroud is expected to find an unwavering amount of success while throwing the football to the likes of fellow Heisman favorite Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr. (the son of NFL legend Mavin Harrison Sr.). Protecting Stroud’s blindside will be left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., who is currently viewed as a potential top 10 prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. Ohio State’s offense is loaded with talent and is set up for haunting success in 2022. Look for Stroud to take immediate advantage while making a strong case to capture the 2022 Heisman award.

THE NO. 1 CONTENDER: BRYCE YOUNG, QB, ALABAMA

Last year’s winner is expected to be dethroned by Stroud according to the oddsmakers, but Alabama’s Bryce Young won’t go down without a fight. Young became the first quarterback in Alabama’s illustrious history to win the most famous individual award in college football last season. It’s a shocking fact given Alabama’s pedigree, but it speaks volumes regarding the type of rare talent Young possesses.

Young was absolutely electric as a first-year starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide in 2021 following Mac Jones’ departure. Young was outstanding while throwing for an astounding 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Compiling those statistics allowed Young to set Alabama’s single-season record for passing yards and touchdowns. Young’s late-season heroics against the likes of Auburn and Georgia in the Iron Bowl and SEC Championship game, respectively, helped catapult him to Heisman glory last season, and it’s easy to forecast similar success in 2022.

Young is not only a Heisman favorite, but he’s also fully capable of convincing a quarterback-needy team to draft him with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft should he experience another fruitful record-setting campaign.

Alabama is expected to compete for the National Championship in 2022. A successful season for Young could welcome all sorts of accolades.

DON’T SLEEP ON: BIJAN ROBINSON, RB, TEXAS

The oddsmakers have made it awfully tempting to pounce on Texas running back Bijan Robinson, who can be secured at enticing odds of 28/1. Texas’ offense is beaming with firepower ahead of the 2022 college football campaign and Robinson is largely expected to serve at the forefront of it all.

Arguably the best ball-carrier in all of college football, Robinson wrapped his sophomore season in 2021 by totaling 1,127 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns, while also adding four receiving touchdowns as a dual-threat weapon coming out of the backfield.

Robinson was actually gaining steam for last year’s Heisman trophy throughout the early portion of Texas’ campaign, but a late-season elbow injury and disappointing Texas season overall (they surprisingly finished 5-7) saw Robinson’s chances ultimately fade down the stretch. Defeating a quarterback such as Stroud or Young for the Heisman won’t be easy. Signal-callers are typically the favorites to finish first place in the voting and it would take something truly magical from Robinson for him to defy the odds.

Robinson is certainly talented enough to pull off the impossible, however. Robinson’s rare combination of size, speed, and overall power make him a first-round prospect and potential Heisman candidate.