4 B1G players crack early odds to win 2021 Heisman Trophy, Indiana's Michael Penix Jr. near the top
The Heisman Trophy was presented to Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith on Tuesday night, and already the odds are out for next year’s award.
BetOnline has released the names of players with the best odds to claim college football’s highest individual honor after the 2021 season. While there is no candidate from the B1G that has separated himself from the pack at this point, there are four names from the conference who were included in the early odds.
Leading the way for the B1G was Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr., listed at +1400 to claim the Heisman Trophy at the end of the 2021 season. Penix threw for 1,645 yards and 14 touchdowns with just 4 interceptions while completing 56.5% of his passes as the Hoosiers finished the season 6-2.
Penix was injured near the end of the season and missed games against Wisconsin and Ole Miss (Outback Bowl) to close the season.
Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz was listed at +1600 to win the award after his first season as a starter with the Badgers. After getting off to a blistering start in the opener against Illinois — completing 20-of-21 passes for 248 yards and 5 touchdowns — Mertz looked like a first-year starter. He ended the year with 4 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in the final 6 games as Wisconsin finished 4-3.
Minnesota running back Mo Ibrahim, coming off a monster year, is listed at +2800 after rushing for 1,076 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 7 games for the Gophers in 2020. He has already announced he will return to Minnesota for one more season.
Rounding out the B1G is Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud at +3300. He will likely replace Justin Fields as the Buckeyes’ starter in 2021.
You can view the complete list from BetOnline.ag.