​Indiana's Fernando Mendoza's 2025 season could not have been more perfect. He led his Hoosiers to an unblemished 16-0 season, captured the national championship in historic fashion and won the 2025 Heisman before being selected first in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Raiders. Now that the path is clear for someone new to leave NYC in December holding the Heisman, who will it be? Miami teammates Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney made their mark early with historic Week 1 performances Friday night, while a familiar pair of Buckeyes may had something to say about it on Saturday. Let's check out the latest Heisman trophy odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 5. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Darian Mensah: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)CJ Carr: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)Arch Manning: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Jeremiah Smith: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Dante Moore: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)Malachi Toney: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)Julian Sayin: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)Josh Hoover: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total)Trinidad Chambliss: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total)Jayden Maiava: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total)Sam Leavitt: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Keelon Russell: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Gunner Stockton: +2400 (bet $10 to win $250 total)John Mateer: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)Marcel Reed: +3800 (bet $10 to win $390 total) Here's what to know about the 2026 Heisman oddsboard: Mensah's Miami debut couldn't have gone much better. He immediately proved the doubters wrong, throwing for 401 yards and five touchdowns on Friday night. In the process, Mensah became just the sixth quarterback since 2000 to complete at least 90% of his passes while throwing for 400+ yards and five touchdowns in a game. Following the historic performance, Mensah's Heisman odds surged from +1150, the fourth-shortest entering the week, to +550 as the new favorite. Just a few days ago, Carr entered the college football season as the Heisman favorite. However, after Mensah's dominant performance Friday night, Carr has dropped to the second choice, with his odds moving from +700 to +800. As a true freshman last season, Carr completed 66.6% of his passes for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions. The Notre Dame quarterback will make his 2026 debut Sunday night against Wisconsin, looking to one-up Mensah's Week 1 performance. Arch Manning and Texas made easy work of Texas State to open the season. With a 40-point lead in the third quarter, Manning was pulled from the game after completing 20 of 27 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns against Texas State. Smith has his sights set on the Heisman, and he made that clear Saturday, striking the pose after hauling in his second touchdown of the game. He finished with eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns, with all of that production coming in the first half as the Buckeyes rested their stars for most of the second half. Smith's 151 receiving yards were the second-most he's recorded in a first half during his career. After Saturday's performance, he also has six more receiving touchdowns than any other FBS player since 2024. He'll need more performances like this if he wants to become the first wide receiver since DeVonta Smith to win the Heisman Trophy. Moore set a career-high in passing yards with 378 yards to go with three touchdown passes. He helped Oregon narrowly escape Boise State 34-27. On Friday night, sophomore wide receiver Malachi Toney made history, setting Miami's single-game receiving record with 234 yards while hauling in three touchdowns. Following his historic performance, Toney's Heisman odds soared from +4000 to +1300, the biggest jump of any player this weekend. Sayin picked up right where he left off last season from an efficiency standpoint, completing 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns. Ohio State's matchups against Group of Six opponents provide the perfect opportunity for him to pile up numbers and strengthen the statistical side of his Heisman case. Josh Hoover looked like the next great transfer quarterback in his Indiana debut. He tossed for 231 yards and four touchdowns as the Hoosiers won 52-16. He also became the first quarterback since 2000 to throw 4+ touchdown passes in an Indiana debut. His odds jumped from +3000 to +1900 on Saturday. Read More

​If Lane Kiffin is going to be college football's villain, he might as well have the entrance to match. Ahead of his first game as LSU's head coach, Kiffin walked the Tiger's traditional "Tiger Walk" next to former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, comedian Theo Von and model Brooks Nader. Because … of course. Kiffin, who is set to take over at LSU after the team's underwhelming finish to the 2025 season, has spent the better part of the past year building his case as college football's most entertaining villain. First, he left Ole Miss amid a historic season that included the program's first-ever College Football Playoff appearance to accept the head coaching job at LSU. Kiffin was forced to miss the CFP as Ole Miss' head coach, with Pete Golding elevated to lead the Rebels in his absence. Then came the offseason. Kiffin recruited multiple players who had spent time in NFL training camps this summer back to college football, adding another layer to his already considerable villain résumé. The first-year LSU head coach was asked about all the outside noise surrounding his program on Saturday morning, ahead of his team's season opener against Clemson. "A lot of times to do great things, you're going to be hated," Kiffin said. It was announced Friday night that former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris — both of whom had brief stints in the NFL — were not added to LSU's roster, but the moves only added to the intrigue surrounding Kiffin's first season in Baton Rouge. Then came Saturday's entrance. Kiffin arrived at Tiger Stadium in a sharply tailored suit and sunglasses, shaking hands and waving to fans as he made his way inside the stadium. Not exactly your average stadium walk. But then again, there isn't much about Lane Kiffin that's average. Since arriving in Baton Rouge, the Tigers' head coach has compiled the No. 1-ranked transfer portal class, per 247Sports. He added star quarterback Sam Leavitt, Colorado offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, and Ole Miss defensive standouts TJ Dottery and Princewill Umanmielen. Kiffin also added former LSU coach Ed Orgeron, who led the Tigers to an undefeated 14-0 record and national title in 2019, to his staff. Orgeron will serve as special assistant to recruiting and defense. Kiffin has spent years embracing the attention, and on Saturday, heading into his first game as LSU's head coach in front of what should be a packed Tiger Stadium, he looked comfortable playing the part. College football's villain has officially arrived in Baton Rouge. Read More

​The Oregon Duck is an agent of chaos. The Oregon football team sometimes lives up to that moniker — although Saturday's season-opening 34-27 win against Boise State offered less chaos and was more of a nail-biter — but we're here to talk about the mascot itself. The Duck is an incredible mascot, complete with creative, fun and beyond weird entrances onto the football field. Over the years, the entrances have ranged from ziplining into the stadium to "Mission Impossible" music to dressing up like Michael Jordan and dunking (and destroying) a children's basketball hoop. Amazing stuff. There is no mascot in college football quite like the Duck. However, the Duck is also known to lose its head occasionally, whether it's because it was trolling Deion Sanders too hard or, more recently, falling victim to a stampede of Oregon players running out on the field alongside it. Well, Saturday for No. 2 Oregon's home game against Boise State, the Duck found a solution to keeping its head on while taking the field — whether that was the intention or not. Enter a cardboard Oregon Duck cutout, propped up by the actual Oregon Duck, before the Oregon Ducks kicked off the 2026 season. Here's a look back at times the Duck lost its head during unforgettable game entrances: Expect the Oregon Duck mascot's next memorable home-game entrance no sooner than Friday, September 18, when the Ducks host Portland State. The team's Week 2 matchup is on the road at Oklahoma State next weekend. Read More

​Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has been included in very early hot-seat conversations this season, especially after his Tigers' underwhelming finish in 2025. Swinney finished 7-6 on the year, marking his worst finish as Clemson's head coach since his 6-7 record in the 2010 season. After a 10-3 finish and an ACC championship win in 2024, Clemson struggled to build off its success in 2025. Entering its season opener at No. 11 LSU, which also marks LSU's Lane Kiffin's debut as head coach, Swinney looks to avoid a second consecutive 0-1 start to the season. If that's the case, here's a look at Swinney's contract details and buyout options. How Much Is Swinney Making At Clemson? Swinney signed a 10-year, $115 million contract in September 2022, which has him entering his fifth year in his current contract. After the 2025 season, Swinney made 11.5 million, the highest of any coach in the ACC and fourth-highest in college football. How Much Is Swinney's Buyout After This Season? If Clemson decided to part ways with Swinney as head coach, without cause, the university would owe $57 million, which is down from the $60 million it would have owed him last season, according to the Greenville News and USA TODAY's college football coaches salary database. And his buyout will remain at $57 million through the end of his current contract in 2031. On the other side, if Swinney leaves Clemson to take over at another program, he would owe the Tigers $3 million in 2026 or 2027, $2 million in 2028 or 2029 and $1 million in 2030, the Greenville News noted. However, the previously established "Alabama clause" is still very much in effect, dictating that Swinney would owe Clemson 150% more money if he left specifically for Alabama. What Is Clemson's Toughest 2026 Games And Schedule? Clemson opens up the 2026 season on the road at No. 11 LSU. Additionally, Clemson will also host No. 7 and national champion runner-ups Miami on Saturday, Oct. 3. Clemson's 2026 Schedule: Read More

​This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. College football Week 1 is in full swing, and Polymarket is giving new users a chance to score a $50 bonus with promo code FOX. With ranked teams taking the field throughout the weekend, there are plenty of markets to follow as the college football season gets rolling. No. 1 Ohio State faces Ball State and No. 3 Georgia takes on Tennessee State. Later, No. 2 Oregon battles Boise State, No. 5 Texas welcomes Texas State. For the biggest game of the day, No. 11 LSU welcomes Clemson to their Death Valley in Lane Kiffin's first game in Baton Rogue. The weekend continues Sunday with No. 4 Notre Dame facing Wisconsin and No. 9 Ole Miss taking on No. 24 Louisville, while No. 19 SMU visits Florida State on Monday. From Arch Manning and the Longhorns to Sam Leavitt and LSU, there are plenty of stars and storylines to track across the Week 1 slate. Jump into the college football markets on Polymarket and use promo code FOX to claim the $50 bonus while following the biggest games of the weekend. For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Polymarket promo code page. How to Claim the Polymarket Promo with Code FOX *Probabilities are subject to change* Saturday: No. 2 Oregon vs. Boise State Saturday: No. 11 LSU vs. Clemson Sunday: No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 24 Louisville Monday: No. 19 SMU vs. Florida State More markets available on Polymarket. Read More

​This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. College football Week 1 is bringing the heat, and bet365 is giving new users $365 in bonus bets with bonus code FOX365. With a huge Saturday slate featuring ranked contenders and high-profile matchups, there are plenty of ways to make the opening weekend even more exciting. No. 6 Indiana begins its title defense against North Texas, while No. 2 Oregon takes on Boise State in one of the weekend's biggest tests. No. 5 Texas and Arch Manning face Texas State, No. 3 Georgia takes on Tennessee State and No. 11 LSU battles Clemson in a rematch of last year's opener. Whether you're following the top-ranked teams, keeping an eye on the next wave of college football stars or looking for an edge across the Week 1 slate, bet365 gives new users another way to get in on the action. Use bonus code FOX365 to get the $365 bonus bets, win or lose, and make the most of college football's first big weekend. bet365 How to claim bet365 Promo with Bonus Code ‘FOX365’. Read More

​Is the Big Ten or the SEC the best conference in college football? Urban Meyer has coached and won national championships in both conferences. And when it comes to which one is better, he has a pretty definitive answer. "For close to 20 years, the SEC, we all knew it, dominated the country and the Big Ten Conference," Meyer said on Week 1's edition of "Big Noon Kickoff" when asked about the Big Ten vs. SEC debate. "They won 13 of 17 national championships. You know what? That all changed three years ago when the Michigan Wolverines, then the Ohio State Buckeyes, and then the Indiana Hoosiers won the national title."It's not just at the top of the league. Yes, the Big Ten is 4-0 against the SEC in College Football Playoff games, but they've also won four of five in the non-College Football Playoff bowls. So, as of now, it is the best conference." That debate goes beyond results on the field. "The SEC has dominated the NFL Draft for so many years," Meyer added. "You know what happened last year? The Big Ten had more first-round picks than the SEC. The Big Ten Conference is the strongest conference in college football. That was last year. We'll see [what happens] this year." The Big Ten sent four teams to the 2024 College Football Playoff, which was the first year of the 12-team format. Then, last season (2025), it sent three teams to the playoff, with Indiana and Ohio State each earning first-round byes as the No. 1 and 2 seeds, respectively. The Big Ten also had two teams reach the semifinal round: eventual-champion Indiana and the Oregon Ducks. As for the NFL Draft, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 pick, marking the first time a Big Ten player was selected with the top overall pick since Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long was taken by the Miami Dolphins in 2008. Even more, four of the top-10 selections in the draft were players from the Big Ten: Mendoza, Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate (No. 4) and Ohio State linebackers Arvell Reese (No. 5) and Sonny Styles (No. 7). Before 2023, a Big Ten team hadn't won the national championship since Ohio State captured the title in 2014 with Meyer as head coach, his third season in Columbus. Over Meyer's seven seasons at Ohio State (2012-18), the Buckeyes went a combined 83-9, winning at least 10 games in every season. Meyer's SEC coaching stint came at Florida, where he served as head coach from 2005-10. Across six seasons in Gainesville, Meyer went 65-15, won two SEC titles and captured two national championships, in 2006 and 2008. Entering Week 1 of the 2026 season, the Big Ten has three teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 and eight teams in the Top 25 altogether: Ohio State (one), Oregon (two), Indiana (six), USC (T-14), Michigan (16), Washington (17), Penn State (18) and Iowa (22). Read More