2026 Heisman Trophy stock watch: Miami superstars surge while Jeremiah Smith's path to the award narrows

Malachi Toney and Darian Mensah are the clear frontrunners as Julian Sayin’s injury could prove costly to Smith’s hopes

Malachi Toney and Darian Mensah are the clear frontrunners as Julian Sayin We've officially entered the final month of the regular season in college football. That means the country's best players have just a few more weeks to build their case for the Heisman Trophy. Two superstar Miami teammates, Malachi Toney and Darian Mensah, have the inside track for the award on the heels of a monster October. No one has been able to guard Toney, and he could reach 20 receiving touchdowns by Thanksgiving weekend. No quarterback has been more accurate than Mensah, who also leads the nation in passing touchdowns. Yes, Toney and Mensah will inevitably split votes, but that may not matter because of the new offensive environment around Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

With freshman Luke Fahey at quarterback, Smith ultimately got his numbers, but it wasn't a pretty performance from the Buckeyes as a whole. Can Smith do just enough to hold off Toney and Mensah down the stretch? LSU Sam Leavitt has been working his way back into the conversation, but he needs to close with a strong November if he wants any chance at the award. Likewise, Notre Dame C.J. Car has one shot to make a big impression on voters this weekend against Toney, Mensah and Miami. Here is where the