The race for the 2026 Heisman Trophy is shaping up to be highly competitive, with several prominent college football players emerging as early favorites. Arch Manning, who was also a contender at this time last year, remains a top candidate, often neck-and-neck with Notre Dame's CJ Carr in early odds.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is also positioned as a frontrunner, closely following Manning and Carr. At bet365 Sportsbook, Carr has odds of +700, Manning is at +750, and Smith is at +800.
The top tier extends beyond these three, with Darian Mensah, now at Miami, considered a trendy fourth-favorite at 10/1. Oregon's Dante Moore and Ohio State's Julian Sayin are both listed at 11/1 and 12/1 respectively. Trinidad Chambliss, a breakout star from Ole Miss last season, also holds 12/1 odds. The field is rounded out by Josh Hoover, who is taking over at Indiana, placing eight players with odds between +700 and 14/1, a diversity that suggests a wide-open competition.
This dynamic contrasts with the previous year, when Manning, Garrett Nussmeier, and Smith were the dominant names. Only Smith finished in the top six of the Heisman voting last season, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the award.
Historically, the Heisman Trophy has often been won by athletes who were not considered favorites at the start of the season. Six of the last 10 winners had odds of 30/1 or higher before the season began, with the last two winners, Fernando Mendoza and Travis Hunter, both starting at 50/1 or greater. Since 2016, there have been two instances of 100/1 long shots winning the award.
Notable Contenders and Long Shots
Josh Hoover, stepping into the starting role at Indiana, carries 14/1 odds at bet365. With a significant career record of 9,629 passing yards and 71 touchdowns over three seasons at TCU, Hoover is expected to add to these numbers with the support of Indiana's coaching staff and roster.
For a long-shot bet, Byrum Brown of Auburn is offered at 55/1 odds on Fanatics. Brown, a dual-threat quarterback, amassed 3,158 passing yards and 28 touchdowns, alongside 1,121 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns for South Florida in 2025. This marks the second time in three seasons he has achieved over 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same campaign. Brown's move to Auburn was facilitated by his former USF head coach, Alex Golesh.
While many assume a Heisman winner must come from a top-ranked team, past winners like Jayden Daniels and Travis Hunter were not on championship contenders, suggesting team success is not a prerequisite for the award. This trend benefits players like Brown, whose Auburn team is not projected to be a national title contender.
In the non-quarterback category, Kewan Lacy of Ole Miss is listed at 120/1 odds on DraftKings. Lacy was a key contributor to the Rebels' semifinal run, accumulating 1,567 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns on 305 carries, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Another season of similar production could place him in contention.
