The favorite for the 2026 Heisman Trophy has shifted.
Although he remains a high-end contender, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is no longer the front-runner. The unfortunate injury to quarterback Julian Sayin cracked the race open, and the Buckeyes fell at USC in their first matchup without the second-year starter.
Subsequently, Smith has slipped behind Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, with Mensah's teammate Malachi Toney hot on Smith's heels.
The final month of the regular season may provide more twists and turns, but the Heisman discussion has a distinct Miami flavor right now.
While the latest FanDuel odds are listed, the rankings are more subjective as a snapshot of this moment in the season.
Week 10 Heisman Odds
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- Darian Mensah, QB, Miami (+160)
- Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (+270)
- Malachi Toney, WR, Miami (+350)
- CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame (+1200)
- Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss (+1200)
- Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia (+5000)
- Sam Leavitt, QB, LSU (+5000)
- Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State (+5000)
- Jesse Legree, WR, Oregon State (+6500)
- Gio Lopez, QB, Wake Forest (+8000)
Odds via FanDuel.
On the Radar
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Nate Sheppard, RB, Duke: Welcome back to the fringe of the discussionโand in a monstrous way. Sheppard rushed for 97 yards and racked up five touchdowns in Saturday's rout of Boston College. He's second in the FBS with 1,274 scrimmage yards and stands atop the country with 18 total touchdowns. Duke is 6-2 with a trip to Miami looming after playing at North Carolina State.
Kenny Minchey, QB, Kentucky: Idle last weekend, Minchey and the Cats are ready for their gauntlet. Well, they'd better be, at least. Kentucky has a jaunt to Tennessee in Week 10 before hosting Florida and going to Missouri.
Sam Leavitt, QB, LSU: Similar story for Leavitt, who's set to lead LSU into Saturday's home showdown with rival Alabama. Texas then comes to Baton Rouge, followed by LSU playing at Tennessee. Pretty big three weeks here!
Aidan Chiles, QB, Northwestern: Even though Northwestern lost at Oregon, Chiles deserves a mention. He's thrown for 1,898 yards and 13 touchdowns to one interception, adding 274 yards and 10 scores on the ground.
Michael Hawkins Jr., QB, West Virginia: Hawkins has produced 2,434 offensive yards and 27 touchdowns. Until the Mountaineers lose a fourth gameโa potentially fatal blow to his Heisman hopesโhe deserves consideration. West Virginia's nightmarish November slate begins with a trip to Texas Tech.
Next Players Up
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Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia: Right on the edge of dropping a tier, Stockton mustered 146 yards in UGA's defense-driven win over Florida. This weekend's clash at Ole Miss should be very influential in his award perception.
Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State: As with Hawkins at WVU, Mestemaker is dealing with a team record issue. Oklahoma State dropped to 5-3 after the dramatic 51-49 loss at Iowa Stateโa game in which Mestemaker threw for 323 yards and five touchdowns. Still, he's passed for 2,649 yards and 25 scores this year.
CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame: Saturday brings a now-or-never matchup for Carr and Notre Dame. Holding a 7-1 record, the Fighting Irish are poised to host top-ranked Miamiโwhich has a vulnerable, injury-riddled defense. Carr needs a big game for his Heisman rรฉsumรฉ, and ND itself needs a marquee win.
Devon Dampier, QB, Utah: Dampier found a bounce-back performance in a comfortable win at Cincinnati, totaling 305 yards and three touchdowns. Utah remains unbeaten, but that perfection will be tested opposite rival BYU this weekend.
Gio Lopez, QB, Wake Forest: Lopez capped a dynamic month with 293 offensive yards and a touchdown in Wake Forest's 51-7 dismantling of Virginia. While propelling the Demon Deacons to a 7-1 record, Lopez has generated 2,493 yards and 24 scores to a lone interception. He should further pad those box-score numbers as Wake Forest hosts FCS team Merrimack in Week 10.
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5. Jesse Legree, WR, Oregon State
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The story is amazing.
No matter what happens in the rest of Oregon State's campaign, Jesse Legree has made himself a national name as a freshman. Truly, a stellar accomplishment.
Last weekend, though, the Beavers lost to Fresno State and dropped to 5-3. Again, a fourth setback typically is crushing for a Heisman candidate. Voters just do not often recognize star players on average-or-lower teams.
Nevertheless, he remains the FBS leader in both receiving yards (1,110) and touchdowns (14). Legree is atop the Pac-12 with 53 catches, as well.
Against a shaky Texas State defense in Week 10, Legree may shred another secondary. He's not finished in this race.
4. Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
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After a rough, turnover-plagued night in a loss at Texas, Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss recovered to stomp Auburn. He accounted for 328 yards and three touchdowns during the 45-15 blowout.
That's nice. Oh, look, another key game on the horizon.
Second-ranked Georgia is coming to Oxford this weekend, bringing along a defense that forced four turnovers and limited Florida to 246 yards.
Chambliss completed 19 of 36 passes for 263 yards, rushed for 42 yards and accounted for three touchdowns in a 43-35 loss to Georgia during the 2025 regular season.
3. Malachi Toney, WR, Miami
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Miami played with fire twice in October, holding off Florida State in overtime and needing a late score to survive North Carolina.
The hero, in both? Malachi Toney.
Most recently, he reeled in seven passes for 75 yards and two scores in a 38-35 escape at UNC. Miami trailed in the fourth quarter, but Toney sparked the comeback with a key explosive play and later sealed the victory with a touchdown.
Depending on Notre Dame's defensive plan, Toney may be headed for a showdown with ND corner Leonard Moore. That'd be a fantastic matchup to watch.
Either way, it'll probably be a tight game in South Bend. And when the 'Canes need a play, everyone in the building will know Toney is their target.
But, unlike FSU or UNC, can Notre Dame stop him?
2. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
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Let's remember some nuance here.
At this moment, it feels like the Heisman is slipping out of Jeremiah Smith's grasp. We, collectively, spent two weeks talking about the impact of Julian Sayin's presumed absence, and the Buckeyes immediately lost without him.
Smith also snagged 10 receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown in that 30-18 setback at USC. It's not like he was suddenly a non-factor.
If the Buckeyes lose again and exit the College Football Playoff race, it's hard to imagine Smith's award upside won't tumble, too. If they rattle off a winning streak, however, it's similarly likely that Smith was the catalyst.
OSU's final stretch, starting at home against Oregon, is a narrative-setter for Smith.
1. Darian Mensah, QB, Miami
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Miami, you have a defensive problem. Injuries have wrecked the secondary, and the 'Canes have allowed at least 400 yards and at least six yards per play in three consecutive gamesโdespite winning all three.
Good thing Darian Mensah is a problem for all defenses, huh?
Miami only had seven possessions at North Carolina, yet the quarterback oversaw six scoring drives. He completed 22-of-29 attempts for 274 yards and three touchdowns, adding 36 yards on the ground and answering every UNC threat that arose.
Notre Dame boasts a stellar, even if also banged-up, defense that is certain to test Mensah. All these good, positive statements may be quieter in a week's time.
On the other hand, Mensah may leave South Bend with his signature moment.
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