2026 Heisman Trophy Odds: Jeremiah Smith Favored

Charlie Zschau Updated: Oct 05 2026 20:06

The Heisman Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding player in college football.

Fernando Mendoza won the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 2025, becoming the first player in Indiana Hoosiers history to win the award.

Mendoza led Indiana to an undefeated regular season, capped off by a 27-21 victory over the Miami Hurricanes to win the first NCAA Football National Championship in school history.

In 2025, Mendoza passed for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns (Most in Division 1) while completing 72.0 percent of passes.

2026 Heisman Trophy Odds

Odds Updated 10/5/2026.

Jeremiah Smith	-105	Darian Mensah	+650
Keelon Russell	+700	CJ Carr	+750
Trinidad Chambliss	+1600	Arch Manning	+3000
Gunner Stockton	+3500	Julian Sayin	+3500
Malachi Toney	+3500	Drew Mestemaker	+4000
Josh Hoover	+4000	Kamario Taylor	+4000

With Mendoza gone (Selected first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders), a number of quarterbacks and wide receivers are all competing for the Heisman Trophy.

Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State)

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith holds the best odds to win the Heisman Trophy. The X-receiver possesses elite body control, a big frame, and soft hands, which has drawn comparisons to NFL legends Calvin Johnson and Julio Jones. Smith, a junior, has already become the all-time Ohio State receiving yards leader, passing some NFL Hall of Fame caliber Buckeyes.

Through five games, Smith has 44 catches, 823 yards (Leads college football), and nine touchdowns. In the week four win against Illinois, Smith caught 12 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns.

Darian Mensah & Malachi Toney (Miami)

Miami quarterback Darian Mensah is the second favorite to win the award.

Mensah has improved each season in college football, and shredded the Stanford defense in his first game of 2026. Mensah passed for 401 yards and five touchdowns, setting the tone for the rest of the country. Mensah has passed for 1,438 yards, and 14 touchdowns. He has still not thrown an interception in 2026.

Mensah's top target, Malachi Toney also made his Heisman case known, catching 12 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns, while notably posing like the famous trophy in the end zone for two of the TDs in the first game of the season. Toney has 39 catches for 604 yards and six touchdowns through five games.

Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss)

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss had taken over as the Heisman Trophy favorite after a statement victory against his former coach, Lane Kiffin, in Oxford, but has since fallen after losing to Jadan Baugh and the Florida Gators.

Chambliss is not just talented, but he's also a true competitor with a chip on his shoulder. He wasn't even supposed to be a starting quarterback last season, but after an injury to Austin Simmons, the Ferris State transfer was pushed into a starting role, and led the Rebels to their first College Football Playoff appearance.

Through four games, Chambliss has passed for 1,222 yards and eight touchdowns, while leading Ole Miss to two victories against ranked opponents.

Arch Manning (Texas)

Arch Manning is the another favorite to win the Heisman this season. Nephew of NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch has been one of the most highly touted prospects for the majority of his career. Arch has shown flashes of his NFL caliber talent, but is yet to put it all together over the course of a season.

Manning earned his best win as a Longhorn in Week 2 when the Texas knocked off No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 in Austin, and followed that up against No. 14 Tennessee.