Penn State has just one Heisman Trophy winner in its history. John Cappelletti received the most prestigious award in 1973, receiving twice as many votes as Ohio State offensive lineman John Hicks. Penn State has been fortunate to have a number of finalists for the Heisman Trophy on multiple occasions since then, but the pursuit for a second Heisman Trophy winner continues entering the 2021 season.
And if the Heisman Trophy odds from BetMGM are any indication, it is probably not expected a Nittany Lion will get to strike the Heisman pose at the end of this upcoming season. But Sean Clifford, Penn State’s third-year starting quarterback, is on the board and ready to try and win some people some big money in the process.
Clifford is the 42nd player on the BetMGM Heisman board with a +15,000 shot to win the Heisman Trophy this season. Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler is the current leader on the Heisman odds board from BetMGM at +550. Clemson quarterback and successor to Trevor Lawrence, DJ Uiagalelei, is second at +600. Ohio State has three players in the top 50 as well.
Clifford may be filed in the category of players to watch that could quickly move up the board with a good start to the 2021 season. The schedule presents Clifford and the Nittany Lions with some good stiff challenges and spotlight opportunities to take advantage of. A road win at Wisconsin followed two weeks later by a nationally televised primetime game against Auburn could see Clifford climb the Heisman odds in a hurry if all goes well. Games later in the year against potential top 25 opponents Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan would also serve well in a Heisman discussion. And it goes without saying a big game against Ohio State in Columbus would carry some significant weight.
Is it worth putting a few bucks down on Clifford? It makes sense to be hesitant to do so given Clifford’s up and down 2020 season. But the 2021 season could be the best yet from Clifford. Whether or not the best version of Clifford is Heisman-worthy may be difficult to see right now. But at those odds, a couple of bucks certainly wouldn’t be the worst investment in the world.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks.
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Penn State’s all-time leading passers in Nittany Lions history
