Media Bias Hurts Shedeur Sanders Heisman Odds
America hates nepotism, and sports fans love to show the ugliest side of themselves when rooting against players who have famous parents. Bronny James has felt the wrath of basketball fans as he pursues his dream of being an NBA player. In the football world, it is Shedeur Sanders of Colorado that is paying for the sins of his father.
Speaking to the media, Coach Prime gave his theory for the lack of Heisman love aimed at his son. It's not the Buffaloes record, since they just clinched a Bowl game birth, and are on track to make the 12-team playoff. It's lack of production, since Shedeur is one of the most productive signal-callers in the nation. According to Deion,
"They don’t even mention him for the Heisman. He’s not even mentioned? Oh my bad, he’s my son. That’s why."
t's hard to argue against this theory. Shedeur Sanders Heisman odds have taken a hit during the season, and according to FanDuel, he is currently +5000 to win the award. Those are the same odds as Penn State Quarterback Drew Allar, who so far this season, has done nothing better than, or even comparable to Sanders.
The favorite to win the Heisman, at +230, is Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel has a better completion percentage than Sanders (76.2%) and his team is undefeated, but he averages fewer yards (296.4) and has fewer touchdown passes (18). The biggest thing he has going for him, is his dad isn't a famous coach and Hall of Fame player.
Cam Ward, from Miami, sits just behind Gabriel in odds (+300). He is also undefeated, and is completing 68% of his passes, for 343.3 yards per game, and 24 touchdowns. Ward will likely battle with Sanders to be the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the battle isn't even close in Heisman odds.
The Coach Prime hate is clearly evident in the odds of Shedeur's college teammate Travis Hunter. Hunter's odds to win the Heisman are +270. He is Colorado's star receiver, star cornerback, and potentially the first overall pick in next years draft. The 6-1, 185-pound Swiss army knife has a PFF receiver grade of 82.3 (27th in the nation) and a grade at cornerback of 84.3 (9th in the nation).
Only a player, who is coached by Deion Sanders, could be an elite player on both sides of the ball, playing almost every snap on both sides of the ball, and still not be a Heisman favorite. Whether he gets shafted, or Shedeur does at the end of the year, the media are certainly going to make sure that no coach prime player be considered the best player in the country.