
With this season’s Heisman Trophy being awarded to LSU quarterback Joe Burrow this past weekend, noted sports gambling site DraftKings went ahead and released its odds for the 2020 Heisman Trophy on Thursday.
Among those near the top of that list was UNC quarterback Sam Howell, who was listed at 20-1 odds (+2000) to take home the most prestigious award in college football after putting forth one of the best seasons ever by a true freshman in 2019.
With one game still left to play–the Military Bowl against Temple on Dec. 27–Howell has already broken the all-time FBS record for touchdown passes by a true freshman with 35, a number which also ranks among the top five all-time in ACC history regardless of age.
In addition, Howell has also thrown for 3,347 yards through UNC’s first 12 games. That number ranks him 15th in the entire country.
The Tar Heels just signed one of the top 20 recruiting classes in the nation this week, and will have a majority of their offensive starters returning next season. With the team expected to win at an even higher rate in 2020–and Howell expected to improve on this year’s stats–it’s not a surprise to see him earning some Heisman buzz.
For the full list of DraftKings’ 2020 Heisman odds, click here.
Photo via Dakota Moyer
Related Stories
‹

'Nobody Likes to Lose': UNC Football Motivated by Frustrations of 2025 SeasonThe 2025 football season saw UNC end on a three-game losing streak. That in itself is, unfortunately for the Tar Heels, not entirely unique: Carolina lost three straight to end the 2024 and 2023 seasons and closed out the 2022 season on an ugly four-game slide. But it was the way in which the Tar […]
![]()
The Morning News: Citizenship, Crime, Parks, and UNC FootballIn today's news: a UNC law professor weighs in on last month's Supreme Court ruling upholding 'birthright citizenship' in the Constitution.
![]()
The Morning News: 'Hello, Dolly!' at PlayMakers, Animal Cruelty Charges in Siler CityIn today's news: PlayMakers Repertory Company's Summer Youth Conservatory celebrates its 20th year with the musical "Hello, Dolly!"
![]()
The Morning News: Rani Dasi to County Commissioner, Mandarin Dual Language at CHCCSIn today's news: CHCCS board member Rani Dasi is nominated for an open seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners.
![]()
The Morning News: Moving CHCCS Students, Previewing UNC Football, and Saving Mr. PicklesIn today's news: six-year-old cocker spaniel Mr. Pickles is reunited with some of the officers and vets who saved his life earlier this year.

'Go Heels, Through and Through': UNC Football Speaks at the 2026 ACC KickoffMembers of the UNC football team spoke to the media at the ACC Kickoff event in Charlotte Friday. Head coach Bill Belichick, receiver Jordan Shipp, offensive lineman Christo Kelly and defensive end Melkart Abou-Jaoude addressed several topics, including the upcoming season and last year’s difficult campaign. Below are highlights from Friday’s media session: Melkart Abou-Jaoude […]

Chansky's Notebook: The Cost of BusinessCarolina has released its salary structure for the 2026-27 men’s basketball season, and right now it has to be a game of wait and see. Mike Malone is making $7.5 million in his first college head coaching season and his new top assistant Chuck Martin is making $500,000. Here is where it gets interesting. The […]

Check out the Full Schedule for UNC's ACC Network TakeoverThe ACC Network will air a full day of UNC games from the 2025-26 academic year Wednesday, July 1. It’s part of a series of ACC Network Takeovers, which started June 24 and include all 18 member schools. UNC’s takeover includes wall-to-wall coverage from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. The broadcast day gets underway with […]

UNC Football's Upcoming Home-and-Home Series With South Carolina CancelledThe UNC football program’s upcoming home-and-home series against South Carolina has been cancelled. The Tar Heels were scheduled to visit Columbia in 2028 and host the Gamecocks in Chapel Hill in 2029. In a brief release, UNC said the expanded conference schedules in both the SEC and ACC, which will see schools play nine league […]

UNC Teases Kenan Stadium Enhancements as Venue Prepares to Celebrate 100 YearsThe 2026 UNC football season will be the 100th in which the Tar Heels have called Kenan Stadium home, and the program is prepared to celebrate the historic venue with several upgrades and enhancements this fall. Two new video boards will be installed above each end zone, with both measuring 31.5 feet high by 106.5 […]
›