Redshirt
Analysis

Heisman Edges: Biggest Model vs Market Gaps

The biggest Heisman edges surface where the model and the market disagree on title probability, and Indiana leads: 9c contracts against a 10.8% fair value.

By Redshirt Editorial · 2026-07-24
Analysis
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Key takeaways
  • Indiana carries the widest Heisman-relevant edge: national-title contracts trade at 9c against the model's 10.8% fair value.
  • Michigan prices at 2c versus a 3% model fair value, the clearest discount among lower-tier title contenders.
  • Ohio State and Notre Dame lead the title board at 11% and 10.9% fair value but both trade rich at 12c.
  • Oregon sits at 10% fair value yet trades at 11c, pricing above the model's read.
  • Team title probability is the strongest public proxy for a skill player's Heisman path, so title mispricings flag Heisman edges.

The widest Heisman-relevant disagreement sits with Indiana. Its national-title contracts trade at 9c on Kalshi while the model's fair value is 10.8%, the clearest case on the board where a Heisman-carrying team is priced below the model. When price trails fair value, the market is discounting the team's ceiling, and the Heisman case that rides on it comes along cheap.

Why title prices are the backbone of Heisman edges

The Heisman follows team success. A skill player's award path is inseparable from deep playoff runs, prime-time exposure and win totals, so a team's title probability is the strongest public signal for its top candidate. That makes the national-title board the cleanest read on where the model and the market diverge.

The method is simple. The model builds a de-vigged consensus fair value from Kalshi and Polymarket, then compares it to the best available contract price. A price under fair value is a discount; a price over it is a premium. The size of that gap is the edge.

No Heisman player prices are invented here. The disagreement is measured on the observable title market, where each contender's odds are quoted, and the Heisman read is inferred from it.

Where the model sees Heisman value: Indiana and Michigan

Indiana is the headline. At 9c against a 10.8% fair value, the contract prints roughly two points below the model, the largest discount among teams with a live Heisman candidate. The market treats Indiana as a fringe contender; the model files it alongside the top tier at 10.8%.

Michigan is the second discount. It trades at 2c versus a 3% fair value, a smaller absolute gap but a real one at the longer end of the board. Oklahoma sits close to fair, 2c against 2.2%, marginally cheap rather than a standout.

These are the names where price beats fair value. For a trader mapping Heisman exposure onto title contracts, the discounted team is where the model's disagreement pays.

Where the market prices Heisman cases rich

The favorites run the other way. Ohio State tops the board at 11% fair value but trades at 12c, and Notre Dame is 10.9% fair value against 12c on Polymarket. Both are premiums: the market pays up for the highest-profile Heisman platforms.

Oregon fits the pattern at 10% fair value versus 11c, and Miami (6.4% versus 7c) and LSU (4.9% versus 6c) also trade above model. Georgia (7.6% versus 8c) and Texas A&M (2.8% versus 3c) carry thinner premiums.

Texas is the rare clean print: 9c against a 9% fair value, price on top of model. Where the favorites are marked up, the model's disagreement points away, not toward.

Reading the board

The pattern is consistent: the market pays premiums on the marquee Heisman platforms and discounts a genuine contender in Indiana. That is the core of the model-versus-market gap, and it is why the biggest edge is not at the top of the board.

Prices and the model can both be wrong, and title probability is a proxy for a Heisman case, not a direct quote on it. This is prediction-market analysis, not advice. New entrants can weigh venue promos such as Kalshi's FADE (trade $25, get up to $500) or Polymarket's TGSWC (deposit $20, get a $50 trading bonus) when choosing where to route a contract.

The board will move as depth charts settle and win totals firm up. For now, the model's read is straightforward: fade the premium favorites, respect the Indiana discount.

Title fair value and price, by contender

The charts below use only the current national-title figures. The first ranks fair value across the top contenders; the second sets best price against the names carrying the widest model gaps.

National-title fair value, top contenders
Ohio State11%
Notre Dame10.9%
Indiana10.8%
Oregon10%
Texas9%
Georgia7.6%
Miami6.4%
LSU4.9%

Best contract price, edge names

Indiana's 9c prints below its 10.8% fair value, and Michigan's 2c below its 3%, while Ohio State and Notre Dame sit at 12c above model. Price in cents maps directly to implied probability.

Best price, edge and favorite names
Indiana9c
Michigan2c
Oklahoma2c
Texas9c
Ohio State12c
Notre Dame12c
TeamsIndianaMichiganOhio StOregonNotre DameOklahoma
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Frequently asked questions

Which team has the biggest Heisman-relevant edge right now?

Indiana. Its national-title contracts trade at 9c on Kalshi while the model's fair value is 10.8%, the widest gap between price and model among the top contenders.

Why use title prices to find Heisman edges?

A quarterback's Heisman path tracks his team's success, so team title probability is the strongest public signal for a Heisman case. Where title contracts trade below fair value, the associated candidate is often underpriced too.

Are the top title favorites also the best Heisman value?

Not currently. Ohio State (11% fair value) and Notre Dame (10.9%) top the board but both trade at 12c, above model fair value, so the favorites price rich rather than cheap.

What does a price below fair value mean?

It means the contract is cheaper than the model's estimated probability. Indiana at 9c versus 10.8% and Michigan at 2c versus 3% are the clearest examples on the current board.

Where do these contracts trade?

The figures cited come from Kalshi and Polymarket. Indiana's 9c and Ohio State's 12c print on Kalshi; Notre Dame's 12c and Oregon's best pricing route through Polymarket.

About the author
Redshirt Editorial

Redshirt Analytics editors cover college football prediction markets: how contracts price the season, where the value sits, and how the platforms compare.