Way-too-early Heisman Trophy contenders: Who could win award in 2026?

Who will be the Fernando Mendoza of the 2026 college football season?

It’ll be tough for a player to replicate what the Indiana quarterback achieved in 2025, winning a Heisman Trophy before leading his program to a national championship win and a perfect 16-0 record (becoming just the first player to achieve that feat since DeVonta Smith in 2020 and first quarterback since Joe Burrow in 2019).

Mendoza passed for 3,535 yards with 41 touchdowns to six interceptions in the 2025 season, also rushing for seven scores. The first-year transfer from Cal was a sought-after transfer portal quarterback, although no one foresaw him developing into a Heisman winner.

The last four Heisman winners are former transfers, as Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Travis Hunter and Mendoza all started their careers at different schools. The winners from 2017-19 — Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Burrow — were also transfers.

Will the 2026 Heisman Trophy winner come out of nowhere? Or will it be a high-profile returning player or transfer? Here’s a way-too-early look at the top Heisman contenders for next season after Indiana’s national championship win over Miami:

Way-too-early Heisman Trophy contenders for 2026

Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Mississippi

Trinidad Chambliss is still fighting for a sixth and final season of eligibility, but the Mississippi quarterback would instantly be one of the best returning players in college football — if he wins his case.

Chambliss, a first-year transfer from Division II Ferris State in 2025, passed for 3,937 yards with 22 touchdowns to three interceptions in 2025. He also rushed for 527 yards and eight scores.

The 6-foot-1 quarterback was a breakout performer in the College Football Playoff, leading Ole Miss to wins over Tulane and Georgia before falling to Miami in the final seconds of the Fiesta Bowl semifinal.

Chambliss wasn’t the full-time starter until Week 3, and has a chance to put up gaudy numbers with a full slate of games.

Arch Manning, QB, Texas

Former 5-star recruit Arch Manning, the latest quarterback from the Manning family, entered 2025 with loads of hype as a first-year starter leading preseason No. 1 Texas. He struggled out the gate, but was prolific as the season went on.

Manning, a redshirt junior next season, passed for 3,163 yards with 26 touchdowns to seven interceptions on the year, also rushing for 399 yards with 10 touchdowns. He ended the season with a huge game against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, totaling 376 yards with four touchdowns in the 41-27 win.

He returns leading receiver Ryan Wingo and adds 5-star transfer receiver Cam Coleman to his group of weapons. Texas also grabbed two of the best running backs in the transfer portal in Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown, both of whom are strong pass-catchers.

Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

Jeremiah Smith was instantly one of the best players in college football as a true freshman at Ohio State in 2024, and was pivotal in the Buckeyes’ national championship run. The Biletnikoff Award finalist in 2025 was among the best again as a sophomore.

Smith caught 87 passes for 1,243 yards with 12 touchdowns in 2025. His quarterback, Julian Sayin, returns in 2026 with a full season starting under his belt. He and Sayin, a Heisman finalist in 2025, will both compete for the award.

Malachi Toney, WR, Miami

Another true freshman receiver in 2025, Malachi Toney was Miami’s go-to target last season, despite being a true freshman who reclassified from the 2026 recruiting class.

The should-be high school senior in 2025 was electric for the Hurricanes, finishing with a nation-leading 109 receptions for 1,211 yards with 10 touchdowns. He also rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown while passing for two more scores.

Toney is set to be Miami’s best offensive weapon again in 2026 with a year of experience under his belt.

Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana

Josh Hoover will be Curt Cignetti’s third quarterback at Indiana, and the third to come from the transfer portal.

The three-year starter at TCU has 9,629 career passing yards with 71 touchdowns to 33 interceptions, and brings loads of experience with him to Bloomington, Indiana. He has struggled with turnovers at times, but that could be due to throwing more than 400 times the last two years.

Hoover will have Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh and returning receiver Charlie Becker, one of Indiana’s breakout stars late in the season, as his primary weapons in 2026.

Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State

A redshirt freshman in 2025, Sayin finished fourth in Heisman voting behind Mendoza, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love — as a first-year starter. It’s safe to assume he could take an even bigger leap in 2026.

Sayin was one of the most efficient passers in college football, completing a whopping 77% of his passes with an 88.4 QBR, ranking No. 4 nationally. He and Smith form what could be the top quarterback-receiver duo in the country next season.

He struggled at times in Ohio State’s season-ending Cotton Bowl loss to Miami, throwing two interceptions and taking five sacks in the 24-14 loss.

Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

Dante Moore was widely viewed as the No. 2 quarterback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, but opted to return to Oregon for the 2026 season.

Moore, who stands 6-foot-3, has prototype NFL size and showcased elite arm talent at times for the Ducks as a redshirt sophomore. He completed 71.3% of his passes with 32 total touchdowns, but had a tendency to make errant throws, tossing 10 interceptions.

The former UCLA transfer surrendered three turnovers in Oregon’s 56-22 loss to Indiana in the Peach Bowl and is looking to have a big offseason before likely his final year of college football.

Honorable mentions

Here are a few honorable mention Heisman contenders for 2026:

• Sam Leavitt, QB, LSU
• CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
• Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia
• Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri
• Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M
• Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
• Brendan Sorsby, QB, Texas Tech
• John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma
• Darian Mensah, QB, TBD
• Austin Mack, QB, Alabama
• Keelon Russell, QB, Alabama