B/R's 2026 Heisman Trophy Odds and Rankings after Week 6
Superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, in both literal and metaphorical terms, is starting to run away from the competition.
On the field, Ohio State's elite playmaker has practically been uncoverable. In the 2026 Heisman Trophy discussion, Smith has steadily become the clear favorite to take home the most prestigious individual award in college football.
But as Smith and OSU prepare for a showdown at Indiana, a few other contenders have a potential marquee moment ahead in Week 7.
While the latest FanDuel odds are listed, the rankings are more subjective as a snapshot of this moment in the season.
Week 7 Heisman Odds
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- Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (-210)
- Darian Mensah, QB, Miami (+1000)
- CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame (+1200)
- Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss (+1300)
- Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia (+1400)
- Keelon Russell, QB, Alabama (+2000)
- Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (+4000)
- Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State (+4000)
- Kamario Taylor, QB, Mississippi State (+5500)
- Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana (+5500)
- Malachi Toney, WR, Miami (+6500)
Odds via FanDuel.
On the Radar
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Kenny Minchey, QB, Kentucky: Thanks to back-to-back 35-34 overtime wins against South Carolina and LSU, Kentucky is now 5-1. That's enough to keep an eye on Minchey, who's thrown for 1,394 yards, 12 total touchdowns and just 1 interception. Oklahoma hosts UK in Week 7.
Austin Simmons, QB, Missouri: Similar story at Mizzou, where Simmons has guided the program to a 5-1 start. He had a quiet showing in the recent win against Texas A&M, yet sports a passing line of 1,434 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State: Dating back to the upset of Oregon, Oklahoma State has ripped off four straight wins. Mestemaker threw for 304 yards and two scores in a triumph over UCF, adding a rushing score. Saturday's trip to Houston is essentially a fork in the road for Mestemaker's candidacy.
Jesse Legree, WR, Oregon State: You know whose stats are stunningly comparable to those of Jeremiah Smith? That would be Legree, a true freshman just balling out at the other OSU. He's pulled in 38 passes for 932 yards and 12 touchdowns. Can the 4-2 Beavers avoid more losses to truly get Legree in the hunt?
Jayden Maiava, QB, USC: Maiava quieted the White Out crowd at Penn State with his 301 yards and three scores in a 31-23 win. Entering an open weekend, Maiava is second nationally in both passing yards (2,045) and touchdowns (18). He lacks a signature game, but USC still has to play Ohio State, Indiana and UCLA.
Devon Dampier, QB, Utah: In a 41-24 victory over Kansas, Dampier passed for 238 yards, rushed for 71 more and totaled four touchdowns. Utah is 5-0 with a favorable trip to Colorado up next.
Next Players Up
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Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia: Soon enough, the "undefeated team" bump may nudge Stockton into a ranked position. Plus, he's thrown for 1,298 yards with 14 touchdowns to two interceptions while rushing for 134 yards and a score. That production is just a tier below a few others for now, though.
Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana: Overall, not a great showing from Hoover at Nebraska. He only completed 12-of-22 attempts and didn't lead a touchdown drive through three quarters. Yet in the closing frame, Hoover connected with Nick Marsh for a pair of long scores to help IU survive 20-17. Entering the Ohio State clash, Hoover has totaled 1,406 yards and 18 touchdowns with zero turnovers for 6-0 IU.
Malachi Toney, WR, Miami: Toney is on the fringe of this category, but it felt unfair to drop him after an idle weekend. While he remains an electric talent, Toney's numbers—39 receptions for 604 yards and six touchdowns—could use a jolt. If he shreds Florida State on Saturday like he did last season, Toney will stay safely in the mix.
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State: When someone throws for 242 yards and four touchdowns but isn't the biggest story on offense, you know there's serious talent surrounding him. Perhaps a trip to Indiana will be Sayin's shining moment, although he certainly isn't complaining about having Smith on the outside.
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss: Chambliss has thrown for 1,435 yards, 113 on the ground, and 16 total touchdowns, with six turnovers. Those are perfectly fine numbers on a 4-1 Ole Miss team. Starting in Week 7, however, the Rebels take on No. 13 Missouri, No. 7 Texas, Auburn, No. 1 Georgia and Oklahoma in consecutive weeks. It's make-or-break time for Chambliss and Ole Miss.
5. Kamario Taylor, QB, Mississippi State
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Stockton, Chambliss and Sayin are pounding on the top-five door. There are decent arguments for putting any of them in front of Kamario Taylor.
The glaring issue on his résumé is the 33-point smackdown Alabama laid on Mississippi State two weeks ago. Taylor didn't play terribly, but he still committed three turnovers in the 56-23 loss.
So, it was an ideal moment for an open weekend to reset.
Taylor is back on Saturday with a trip to LSU, followed by a home contest with Oklahoma and a game at Texas. He was an awesome September story, but the rest of October will show if Taylor has staying power in the Heisman race.
4. Keelon Russell, QB, Alabama
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Russell, similarly, may be a bit lower in your ranking. Stockton and Chambliss, in particular, have logical cases to leapfrog Alabama's signal-caller.
But I'm not going to shred a first-year starter for struggles with Georgia.
To be clear, it wasn't a great showing. Russell mustered a 16-of-30 line in the 20-17 loss, passing for 185 yards and a touchdown, with 41 rushing yards and a fumble. He took a terrible sack in the fourth quarter that moved Bama out of field-goal range while trailing by three points, too.
Without a bounce-back performance at rival Tennessee this weekend, Russell will likely drop out of B/R's top five. Again, it's already a debatable spot anyway.
At the same time, Russell's stat line—1,824 total yards and 16 touchdowns for a 5-1 team, including two victories over current Top 25 teams—is impressive.
3. CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
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Finally, a test.
Notre Dame remains a clear favorite in its journey to BYU, but a prime-time showdown with an unbeaten team is CJ Carr's toughest challenge to date.
The second-year starter has done exactly what you'd expect from a top QB against modest competition. After throwing for 181 yards and three touchdowns as ND smoked Stanford, he's guided the Fighting Irish to a 6-0 record with 1,447 offensive yards and 19 total scores to one interception.
BYU's defense, on the other hand, has yielded just 5.5 yards per attempt—which is tied for fourth-best nationally.
Carr has an opportunity for a signature game in Week 7.
2. Darian Mensah, QB, Miami
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Following an open weekend, Darian Mensah will restart his Heisman pursuit with a game against Miami's bitter rival.
The 'Canes are set to host Florida State on Saturday night. Miami is a heavy favorite in the matchup because FSU's defense has surrendered 500-plus yards in losses to SMU, Alabama, and Louisville.
Miami should win handily. That result is most important.
Smith, though, has managed some clear separation in the award's hierarchy. Mensah, who's totaled 1,517 yards and 17 touchdowns with zero turnovers, can reinforce his candidacy with a comfortable win over FSU.
1. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
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The challenge for Mensah—and, realistically, for anyone else—is that Smith has been spectacular and isn't short on spotlight games.
This weekend, it's a matchup at Indiana. Ohio State is idle in Week 8 but returns with a trip to USC, then hosts Oregon. Heck, even Northwestern is now ranked—and then Nebraska is still 5-1 and Michigan is a rivalry.
You want attention? Good luck landing more than this guy.
Smith tallied four catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns in the 45-16 blowout of Maryland, lifting his season marks to 48 receptions for 916 yards and 11 scores. All three totals are second nationally.
Although he's not a lock to hoist the trophy, Smith is undoubtedly the midseason front-runner for the Heisman.
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