The Award
The Biletnikoff Award, established in 1994, is annually presented to college football’s most outstanding receiver. While traditionally associated with wide receivers, the award was created by Fred Biletnikoff to acknowledge excellence across all pass-catching positions, including tight ends and running backs. Historically, many recipients have translated collegiate success into productive NFL careers, highlighting the award’s role as a reliable indicator of future professional impact.
Embed from Getty Images2025 Biletnikoff Outlook
Heading into the 2025 college football season, two players stand out as early frontrunners for the Biletnikoff Award: Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams. Both players burst onto the scene in 2024, serving as human highlight reels for their respective teams. While there’s a slight drop-off after these two, the next tier of candidates is filled with talent—several of whom could quickly elevate their profiles and join Smith and Williams at the top of the conversation early in the season.
Let’s take a look at some of the top contenders heading into the year, along with their implied odds:
| Name | School | Odds | Implied odds |
| Jeremiah Smith | Ohio State | +300 | 25% |
| Ryan Williams | Alabama | +450 | 18.18% |
| Jordyn Tyson | Arizona State | +1000 | 9.09% |
| Antonio Williams | Clemson | +1400 | 6.67% |
| Ja’Kobi Lane | USC | +1500 | 6.25% |
| Cam Coleman | Auburn | +1600 | 5.88% |
| Malachi Fields | Notre Dame | +2200 | 4.35% |
| Carnell Tate | Ohio State | +2200 | 4.35% |
| Zachariah Branch | Georgia | +2500 | 3.85% |
| Ryan Wingo | Texas | +2500 | 3.85% |
Closing Thoughts
Of the players on this list, only Jordyn Tyson, Antonio Williams, and Ja’Kobi Lane will benefit from continuity at the starting quarterback position. While all of these receivers are clearly talented, having a familiar and experienced quarterback under center provides a valuable advantage in building on-field chemistry and consistency.
If Jeremiah Smith can sustain the level of play, he demonstrated at the end of last season, it will be difficult for anyone to surpass him. However, he’ll be sharing targets with teammate Carnell Tate, who is an elite receiver in his own right. That said, each of these contenders will have ample opportunities to deliver standout performances and build a strong case to be named a finalist when the award is announced in mid-November. The race for the Biletnikoff Award promises to be one of the more compelling storylines of the 2025 season.
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