You (usually) don’t win the Heisman Trophy in the first month of a college football season, but a tone can be set, and candidates can get on the radar for bigger things to come.
Remember, the Heisman Trophy is a popularity contest. Who had the big performance in the big game that everyone was watching? Who captured America’s attention? And then – warning, pretentious flex coming – there’s how I vote for the Heisman. Who is the signature player of the college football season?
But there’s often a difference between who’s in the Heisman race, and who the best players in a college football season. Going into Week 4, here’s the call for how this will all shake out, and the current ten best Heisman candidates so far this season.
The 10 Best Heisman Candidates Right Now, Week 4
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) smiles after a college football game between Ole Miss and LSU at Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Ole Miss defeated LSU 32-24. Ayrton Breckenridge/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
This is based on what we think will happen when the season is over, not on the current buzz, Heisman odds, or lines – we’re projecting and predicting here. Keep in mind, the Heisman usually goes to the best player on the top team in the national title hunt, or to someone whose statistics are off the charts, or a combination of the two.
Five Players Who Should Be On Here (and we won’t argue if you have a beef with the top ten): Gunner Stockton, QB Georgia; Kamario Taylor, QB Mississippi State; Jaden Baugh, RB Florida; Julian Sayin, QB Ohio State, Dante Moore, QB Oregon (if he goes off the rest of the way …)
Advertisement
10. Devon Dampier, QB Utah
If Utah rolls to the Big 12 title and College Football Playoff, Dampier will be the main face of the run. It will take something amazing stat-wise for Dampier to move into finalist territory, but he’s dynamic, experienced, and the Heisman attention is there for the stealing if he blows up against BYU in early November.
9. Malachi Toney, WR Miami
He’s already on the radar as one of the most exciting players in college football, and he has the showcase dates to make everyone gush. At Clemson, Florida State, and then the big one at Notre Dame. If he goes off in those three games, he’ll be in New York City in early December.
Advertisement
8. Jayden Maiava, QB USC
He’s a Lincoln Riley quarterback completing 76% of his throws for close to 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns in four games. Oregon is next, at Penn State Ohio State, at Indiana, at UCLA – the veteran will have plenty of chances to take over the Heisman chase.
7. Jeremiah Smith, WR Ohio State
Best player in the country, most dominant star at his position, should be a New York Jet right now – factor in all of those things, and he’s at least a finalist if he keeps on being Jeremiah Smith.
6. Arch Manning, QB Texas
The stats are fine, and the Holly Rowe thing was horrendous, but on the field, don’t blow off just how good he was in the fourth quarter with everything on the line against Ohio State. For all the Arch-hater types out there, he really is good, and week after week after week he’ll have his chances to show off.
Advertisement
5. Darian Mensah, QB Miami
Mensah is in the same situation as Malachi Toney. If Miami is rolling on the way to an ACC Championship and a high seed in the College Football Playoff, Mensah will be in the mix. If he rips it up in South Bend in a win over Notre Dame, the Heisman might be his for the taking.
4. Keelon Russell, QB Alabama
Yes, Russell has only thrown four touchdown passes so far and ran for two scores, but the Florida State game – 320 yards, three touchdowns – is a sign of what’s coming throughout the SEC season. The Tide will be among the national showcase games for the next several weeks, including at Mississippi State, Georgia, at Tennessee, Texas A&M, and at LSU.
Advertisement
3. Trinidad Chambliss, QB Ole Miss
In two of the most watched games of the season, Chambliss ripped it up in a shootout over Louisville and in the showdown against LSU.
So why so low? At Texas, Georgia, at Oklahoma – we’re calling that Ole Miss loses at least two of those and will slip in one other game. While Chambliss can and probably will still be a finalist no matter what, it’ll be hard to win it if the Rebels don’t get to 10-2 and back to the College Football Playoff. Of course, if Ole Miss is 11-1 or better, the Heisman race might already be over.
2. Josh Hoover, QB Indiana
Remember, ol’ Fernando wasn’t on anyone’s radar last year at this time. Hoover has been perfect against bad teams, throwing ten touchdown passes, zero interceptions, and doing what he’s supposed to do. It’s coming – Ohio State, at Michigan, USC, at Washington. The chances will be there to take the Heisman.
Advertisement
1. CJ Carr, QB Notre Dame
The best player on what might be the best team in college football, Carr is hitting 73% of his passes for 726 yards and six touchdowns, with no interceptions in the first three games. He’s in total command.
The entire sports world will be watching Notre Dame vs Miami, as long as Carr and the Irish win at BYU a few weeks earlier. If he’s awesome against the Hurricanes, and the Irish go 12-0, he’ll be right there for the Heisman win.
– 10 Best Players in College Football, Week 4
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
