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Now that every team has hit the field, the race for the Heisman Trophy is underway. While Arch Manning was able to get off to a hot start, others trickled down the odds list, including Dante Moore who struggled to secure the win over Boise State. With Ohio State on deck, Manning will have a great opportunity to strengthen his claim for the award by securing a pivotal win against a national championship contender.
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Week 2 Heisman Trophy Watch
| Team | Player | Position | Opponent | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Arch Manning | QB |  |
+950 |
 |
Dante Moore | QB |  |
+1450 |
 |
Keelon Russell | QB |  |
+2500 |
Complete Week 2 Heisman Trophy Power Rankings
Arch Manning | QB, Texas vs. Ohio State
Since the start of the offseason, Arch Manning has hovered near the top of the oddsboard for the Heisman award, jockeying with the likes of CJ Carr and Dante Moore as the favorite. His odds continued to grow after Texas re-tooled their offense, bringing in weapons like Cam Coleman who is a potential first round pick in the upcoming draft, giving Manning a WR1 to lean on.
While their connection resulted in only three receptions for Coleman in their season debut against Texas State, the Longhorns star WR was able to make the most of it, turning them into 70 yards and two touchdowns. When looking away from Coleman, Manning was still able to put together an efficient performance, throwing for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns while completing 74% of his passes.
In a highly anticipated week two matchup against Ohio State, Manning will need to be near flawless should he want to secure the win, battling it out against a defense who ranks in the top-20 in Def Success Rate, Explosiveness, and in Finishing Drives. With the Buckeyes back end excelling in coverage, expect Manning to rely heavier on his legs to keep their drives alive, stuffing the stat sheet in the process.
Dante Moore | QB, Oregon at Oklahoma State
Even though Dante Moore managed to throw for 378 yards and 3 touchdowns, Oregon’s performance as a whole raised some question marks, tarnishing their QB’s performance in their win against Boise State. Especially in the first half, entering the locker room down 17-14 before a strong start to the second half helped them recapture their lead.
If Moore is going to want to remain in contention for the Heisman, then the Ducks signal caller will need to connect with his pass catchers at a higher rate in the shortened field. Their inability to turn their scoring opportunities into points on the board made it difficult for them to pull away from the Broncos, ranking 96th in Finishing Drives while averaging just 3.09 points per opportunity.
Fortunately for Moore, the Ducks will be able to round back into dominant form in their week two matchup against Oklahoma State, facing off against a defense who struggled to hold their opponents in front of the sticks per their below league average mark in Def Success Rate. The Cowboys lack of coverage will also widen the width of Moore’s passing lanes in the red zone, improving his probability of scoring to help keep his hat in the ring for the award.
Keelon Russell | QB, Alabama at Kentucky
Even with negative regression looming large over their offense after an underwhelming offseason, Keelon Russell was able to keep Alabama afloat in their debut against East Carolina, throwing for 256 yards in their 48-10 win over the Pirates. Russell’s dual threat ability was also on full display, adding another 86 yards with his legs while punching one in for six.
If Russell is going to want to keep the Crimson Tide competitive this season, he is going to need to continue to burn opposing front sevens with his legs to help mask the lack of protection he receives from his offensive line. Especially with their conservative play calling struggling to stretch out opposing secondaries, plummeting to the bottom of the board in Explosiveness.
In a conference matchup against Kentucky, we will get a clearer picture on Russell’s effectiveness, facing off against a defense who hovers in the top half of the board in Def Explosiveness and in EPA. If Russell can build on his momentum and flex his versatility, then we will need to consider adding him to our Heisman portfolio, grabbing a juicy number before his odds continue to drop.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
