Heisman repeat? Alabama's Bryce Young receiving tepid support

It has been nearly a half century since Archie Griffin became the first player to win consecutive Heisman Trophies.

He is one of six different Ohio State players to win the award and remains the only player from any school to claim it twice.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has an opportunity to match that feat this year, but oddsmakers and the public have cooled on his prospects of doing so as the season approaches.

Young and Ohio State counterpart C.J. Stroud opened as the betting favorites after last season's national championship game.

However, the Heisman Trophy markets have continued to shift since former Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams officially followed coach Lincoln Riley to Southern California over the spring.

Stroud is the current +200 favorite at BetMGM ahead of Young (+350) and Williams (+600). Stroud opened at +400 at the sportsbook while Young opened at +250 and Williams at +600.

The trio are well ahead of Texas running back Bijan Robinson (+1600) and quarterback Quinn Ewers (+2000). Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr., Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson, Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson and Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei are also all at +2000.

Stroud leads the sportsbook with 13.3 percent of the total bets and 24.5 percent of the Heisman Trophy handle. Williams is second with 9.0 percent of the bets while Young is second with 10.4 percent of the handle.

However, Young's percentage of support has shrunk since the market opened. That trend is far more stark at PointsBet, which confirmed to Field Level Media on Monday that the junior is not among the top 10 in either total bets or handle despite having the second-shortest odds at +350.

Stroud also leads the way at PointsBet with 11.1 percent and 25.1 percent of the action, respectively. He is followed in bet count by Anderson (10.4 percent at +1600) and in handle by Robinson (7.2 percent at +4000).

Young is not among the top five most supported Heisman favorites at DraftKings, where he is also second to Stroud (+220) at +380. Crimson Tide teammate Anderson, who is being offered at +1600, leads the way with 11 percent of the bets and 14 percent of the handle backing him.

Stroud's primary target, Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, is the biggest current Heisman Trophy liability at BetMGM. His odds have shortened from +5000 to +3000 while drawing 7.8 percent of the total bets and 6.1 percent of the handle.

Smith-Njigba is also a big liability at PointsBet, where he has been backed by 7.3 percent and 7.0 percent of the action, respectively, at +3300.