Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell tops Heisman odds after 56-23 win over Mississippi State

Russell's 285-yard, three‑touchdown performance moved him to the top of FanDuel’s Heisman odds, while Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor fell to a long‑shot.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 03 Oct 2026 20:50:27 GMT

Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell became the betting favorite for the 2026 Heisman Trophy after leading the Crimson Tide to a 56‑23 road win over Mississippi State on Saturday, according to Bleacher Report.

What happened

In the game at Davis Wade Stadium, Russell completed 16 of 22 passes for 285 yards, threw three touchdowns and rushed for a fourth score, finishing with no interceptions. He was pulled midway through the fourth quarter with the game in hand. Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor suffered a lost fumble and an interception on his first two possessions and left the contest late with an injury.

What the reports add

Bleacher Report’s odds roundup shows Russell listed at +350 on FanDuel Sportsbook, nudging past Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who is at +360. The same outlet lists other contenders such as Miami QB Darian Mensah (+500) and Notre Dame QB CJ Carr (+700). In a separate game recap, Bleacher Report notes that Alabama entered the matchup as a 5.5‑point favorite and scored 14 points in each quarter, building a 21‑7 lead just seven seconds into the second quarter.

What was said

Bleacher Report cites FanDuel Sportsbook as the source of the odds but does not include direct quotes from team officials or players.

How it came about

Russell’s rise follows a strong three‑game stretch for Alabama, which also includes wins over Florida State and South Carolina. The shift in betting lines mirrors earlier changes in the Heisman race documented by Felo News, such as Darian Mensah’s surge to the top of the odds on September 20 (darien-mensah-heisman-odds) and the week‑four odds update on September 29 (2026-heisman-odds-week-four). Kamario Taylor’s earlier prominence, highlighted in a September 25 NIL donation story (chris-jones-nil-donation-kamario-taylor), now contrasts with his steep odds drop to +3000.

Key facts

Keelon Russell threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns in Alabama's 56‑23 win over Mississippi State. (bleacherreport.com)
Russell is listed at +350 on FanDuel Sportsbook, making him the Heisman betting favorite. (bleacherreport.com)
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor fell to +3000 odds after the loss. (bleacherreport.com)