As if the looming matchup between No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 Ohio State needed more drama between the Big Ten rivals, the Heisman Trophy could be at stake.
Heading into Week 9, Michigan's J.J. McCarthy is considered the front-runner for the award, according to the latest odds from BetMGM.com. McCarthy is now at +240.
Is the Michigan quarterback the best player in the country? Ohio State fans certainly will disagree and put receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in that conversation. "Maserati Marv" is coming off his best game of the season in the 20-12 victory against No. 10 Penn State. Harrison is tied for sixth with odds at +2000.
MORE: How Marvin Harrison Jr. earned new nickname from Fox
At minimum, the matchup between the Buckeyes and Wolverines will sort out Heisman finalists. Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson finished second and Ohio State's C.J. Stroud finished fourth in 2021. Stroud finished second last season, and Michigan's Blake Corum finished seventh and would have finished higher if not for a late-season injury.
Are McCarthy and Harrison smart picks for the Heisman Trophy? Look for this conversation to intensify leading up to that Nov. 25 matchup.
J.J. McCarthy Heisman Trophy odds
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh – who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1986 – continues to give McCarthy the highest form of praise.
"J.J. has shown to be on path to be the best quarterback in Michigan history," Harbaugh said. "I think going forward, J.J. will be the quarterback that all future quarterbacks are compared to."
McCarthy is coming off his best game of the season. He finished 21 of 27 for 287 yards and four TDs in a 49-0 blowout against in-state rival Michigan State. McCarthy ranks second in the FBS in passer efficiency (199.2). He averages 219.6 yards with 11 TDs and no interceptions in Big Ten play. Those statistics are not prolific, but McCarthy has mixed in 168 rushing yards and three TDs.
He is a playmaker, and after the bye week Michigan will have Purdue, No. 10 Penn State, Maryland and No. 3 Ohio State.
McCarthy hit 12 of 24 passes for 263 yards and three TDs in last year's game, which the Wolverines won 45-23. If McCarthy leads Michigan to the Big Ten championship, especially with the extra scrutiny of the sign-stealing scandal, then he likely will be in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
MORE: What should Michigan's punishment be if found guilty?
Marvin Harrison Heisman Trophy odds
Harrison is coming off a dominant performance against the Nittany Lions. He had 11 catches on 16 targets for 162 yards and a touchdown, including the game-sealing 18-yard score on a crossing route.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day continues to praise the junior receiver for his work ethic.
"The standard he has set here, his work ethic, and what he means to Ohio State, it's about leaving a legacy behind," Day said after the Penn State. "We're only halfway through the season, so I'm not going there yet, but he's on his way. I'm proud of him."
Harrison is on a roll. He has three straight 100-yard games, and he has five 100-yard games this season despite a 56.8% catch percentage with first-year starter Kyle McCord.
There are 13 receivers with at least 700 receiving yards. Harrison is tied with Rome Odunze among that bunch with 18.2 yards per catch. Harrison is the best deep threat receiver in college football, and his acrobatic catches are incredible.
He has a chance to join Alabama's DeVonta Smith (2020) as the second receiver to win the Heisman Trophy in the last four years. Of course, that will take a huge performance against Michigan. Harrison had seven catches for 120 yards and a TD in last year's game.
MORE: Bowl projections | Ranking all 133 teams | Week 9 picks
Current Heisman Trophy Odds
Here are the current Heisman Trophy odds according to BetMGM.com.
A total of seven players have Heisman odds of +2000 or better heading into Week 7:
| PLAYER | SCHOOL | ODDS |
| J.J. McCarthy | Michigan | +240 |
| Michael Penix Jr. | Washington | +300 |
| Jayden Daniels | LSU | +375 |
| Jordan Travis | Florida State | +800 |
| Dillon Gabriel | Oklahoma | +1200 |
| Bo Nix | Oregon | +2000 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | Ohio State | +2000 |
Top Heisman Trophy candidates
McCarthy and Harrison are among the seven candidates with odds of +2000 or better. Here is a look at the other five contenders for the Heisman Trophy. All of these players are transfer quarterbacks.
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington (+300)
2023 stats: 2,576 passing yards, 70.8%, 20 TDs, 5 INTs
Penix is now second in the odds after struggling in a 15-7 victory against Arizona State in Week 8. Penix had 275 passing yards and two interceptions plus a fumble. According to Pro Football Focus, Penix has a 49.1% completion percentage when under pressure. He still has an upcoming stretch against USC, Utah and Oregon State. There is more than enough time to move back up.
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU (+375)
2023 stats: 2,573 passing yards, 73.1%, 25 TDs, 3 INTs
Daniels is in the mix. He leads the FBS in total offense (386.8 ypg.). He has 521 rushing yards on 5.7 yards per carry with five TDs. Daniels' stock will not change this week with the Tigers on a bye week, but he will get his biggest stage against Alabama in Week 9. Daniels had 182 passing yards, 95 rushing yards, three total TDs and threw the winning 2-point conversion in last year's 32-31 victory against the Crimson Tide.
Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State (+800)
2023 stats: 1,750 passing yards, 65.1%, 15 TDs, 2 INTs
Travis was the front-runner in the preseason, and he has hovered among the top five after leading Florida State to victories against LSU, Clemson and Duke. Travis averaged 299.7 passing yards with eight TDs and two interceptions in those games. He's been at his best in those moments.
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oklahoma (+1200)
2023 stats: 2,131 passing yards, 71.2%, 19 TDs, 3 INT
Gabriel is the only hope for a Heisman winner from the Big 12, especially now that Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is out indefinitely with a shoulder sprain. Gabriel has added 230 rushing yards and five TDs and has the Sooners squarely in the CFP mix. He is the value pick among this bunch.
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon (+2000)
2023 stats: 2,089 passing yards, 78.4%, 19 TDs, 1 INT
Nix still leads the FBS in completion percentage and ranks ninth in total offense (313.4), but he has not needed to be a threat in the running game for the Ducks. Oregon has a tough test at Utah in Week 9, and a victory there would give Nix a boost.
Has a Michigan QB ever won the Heisman Trophy?
Two Michigan quarterbacks have finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, a list that includes Rick Leach (1978) and Jim Harbaugh (1986). Halfback Tom Harmon (1940), receiver Desmond Howard (1991) and defensive back Charles Woodson (1997) are Michigan's three Heisman Trophy winners. Tom Brady did not finish in the Top 10 in 1999.
Who is Ohio State's last Heisman Trophy winner?
Quarterback Troy Smith (2006) was the Buckeyes' last Heisman winner in 2006. Ohio State has seven Heisman Trophy winners, including the only two-time winner in Archie Griffin (1974-75). Les Horvath (1944), Vic Janowicz (1950), Howard Cassady (1955) and Eddie George (1995) also won the Heisman Trophy for the Buckeyes.
When is the Heisman Trophy Ceremony?
The Heisman Trophy will be awarded on Dec. 9, one week after the conference championship games. The ceremony will be televised with an hour-long program on ESPN.
