Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith has vaulted to the front of the Heisman Trophy race following a dominant showing against Illinois on Saturday. The Buckeyes’ wide receiver caught four touchdowns, the most of his career, as Ohio State rolled to a 42‑19 victory.

Betting markets react to Smith’s breakout game

Smith’s odds at BetMGM narrowed dramatically, moving from +1000 last week to +250 on Monday, according to trading manager Seamus Magee, who praised the “monster” performance. He now commands 9.2% of the total bets and 18.2% of the money placed on Heisman candidates. DraftKings also lists Smith as a +260 favorite.

Other top contenders and shifting odds

The surge in Smith’s odds leaves BetMGM with its biggest liability. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah trails with the second‑shortest odds at +450, attracting 7.4% of total bets and 15.5% of the money. Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor, a longshot at +15000 when the market opened, now sits at +600 after a strong start to the season.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning, once a preseason favorite, has seen his odds lengthen sharply. After opening at +800, his odds rose to +2500 following a narrow three‑point win at Tennessee. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss serves as a cautionary example; after climbing to the +325 favorite following a win over LSU, his odds slipped to +1100 after a loss to Florida.

Additional Heisman odds snapshot

The latest market data includes a full list of candidates and their odds:

• Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State – +250 (down from +1000)
• Darian Mensah, QB, Miami – +450 (down from +325)
• Kamario Taylor, QB, Mississippi State – +600 (down from +1000)
• Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida – +1000 (down from +6600)
• Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss – +1100 (up from +325)
• CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame – +1200 (up from +1500)
• Malachi Toney, WR, Miami – +1500 (up from +1000)
• Arch Manning, QB, Texas – +2500 (up from +1000)
• Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana – +2500 (up from +3500)
• Keelon Russell, QB, Alabama – +2500 (up from +4000)
• Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State – +3000 (unchanged)
• Jayden Maiava, QB, Southern Cal – +3500 (up from +4000)
• Lincoln Kienholz, QB, Louisville – +3500 (up from +4000)
• Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia – +4000 (up from +4000)

What this means for Heisman hopefuls

Smith’s rapid rise underscores how a single standout performance can reshape the Heisman conversation. While the odds market reflects bettors’ confidence, the ultimate award will still be decided by the official voters after the regular season. Nonetheless, Ohio State fans have a new reason to celebrate as their star receiver joins the elite group of early‑season favorites.

For those tracking the Heisman race, the shifting odds highlight the volatility of college football betting markets and the importance of on‑field production. As the season progresses, other candidates will have opportunities to close the gap, but for now, Jeremiah Smith stands at the forefront of the national conversation.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.