Phil Steele's 2026 Heisman Trophy favorites list is out, and it's a who's who of college football's most promising quarterbacks. With the 2026 season just around the corner, the race for the coveted award is heating up. But who will be the next quarterback to etch their name in Heisman history? Let's take a closer look at the top 10 contenders and the reasons why they're in the running.
1. Arch Manning, Texas
Arch Manning, the son of NFL legend Peyton Manning, entered the 2025 season with high expectations. And he didn't disappoint. Across his final eight games, he led Texas to a 7-1 record, including wins over Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and Michigan. Manning's performance in these games was nothing short of spectacular, passing for 2,012 yards and 15 touchdowns with just two interceptions. His ability to lead the Longhorns to a strong finish and his impressive individual performance make him a strong favorite for the Heisman.
2. Dante Moore, Oregon
Dante Moore, a transfer from the NFL Draft, is the second-leading Heisman candidate. In his first season as Oregon's starting quarterback, Moore passed for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions. He led the Ducks to a 13-2 record and an appearance in the College Football Playoff Semifinals. With superstar tight end Jamari Johnson and talented wide receivers returning, Moore has the potential to have an even bigger year in 2026. His ability to lead the Ducks to success and his impressive individual performance make him a strong contender for the Heisman.
3. CJ Carr, Notre Dame
CJ Carr had an impressive freshman campaign for the Irish, passing for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns with just six interceptions across 12 games. In Notre Dame's two losses, Carr totaled 514 passing yards, four total touchdowns, and two interceptions. With Marcus Freeman's leadership, Carr is poised to take an even bigger leap in his second year. His ability to lead the Irish to success and his impressive individual performance make him a strong contender for the Heisman.
4. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
Trinidad Chambliss, who gained an extra year of eligibility, had a breakout season in 2025, passing for 22 touchdowns with just three interceptions and leading the Rebels to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. ESPN's Jordan Rodgers called him the best quarterback in the College Football Playoff and one of the best going into the 2026 season. His ability to lead the Rebels to success and his impressive individual performance make him a strong contender for the Heisman.
5. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Julian Sayin more than lived up to the hype in his first season as the Buckeyes' starter, passing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns with just eight interceptions. He led Ohio State to an unblemished 12-0 regular season record and an appearance in the College Football Playoff. Sayin's ability to lead the Buckeyes to success and his impressive individual performance make him a strong contender for the Heisman.
6. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Jeremiah Smith, a wide receiver, sat atop On3's 'Top 100 players in college football for 2026' list. Across two seasons in Columbus, Smith has hauled in 163 receptions for 2,558 yards and a whopping 27 touchdowns. He was named a Unanimous All-American in 2025 and has been tabbed the back-to-back recipient of Big Ten Receiver of the Year. While receivers aren't typically wise bets for winning the Heisman, Smith's tantalizing scope of skills makes him a strong contender.
7. Darian Mensah, Miami
Darian Mensah, who transferred from Duke after leading the Blue Devils to an ACC Championship, enters the 2026 campaign as one of Phil Steele's favorites. Mensah's 3,973 passing yards ranked second most in the country, while his 34 passing touchdowns were tied for second most in the country. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal raves about Mensah's accuracy, pocket awareness, and athletic ability. His ability to lead the Hurricanes to success and his impressive individual performance make him a strong contender for the Heisman.
8. Josh Hoover, Indiana
Josh Hoover has the difficult task of succeeding a Heisman-winning quarterback at Indiana. Across 36 career games, Hoover boasts 9,629 passing yards and 71 touchdowns with just 33 interceptions. He joins Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke and Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza as Indiana's starting quarterbacks. His ability to lead the Hoosiers to success and his impressive individual performance make him a strong contender for the Heisman.
9. Sam Leavitt, LSU
Sam Leavitt, the first starting quarterback of the Lane Kiffin era at LSU, led the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff for the first time ever in 2024. Across two seasons as ASU's starter, Leavitt totaled 4,513 passing yards and 34 touchdowns with nine interceptions. ESPN's Greg McElroy raves about Leavitt's mobility and creativity, which make him a strong contender for the Heisman.
10. Devon Dampier, Utah
Devon Dampier, Utah's starting quarterback, shined in his first season, passing for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He was named the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year and led Utah to an 11-2 record and a blowout victory over Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl. While no Utah player has ever won the Heisman Trophy, Dampier's ability to lead the Utes to success and his impressive individual performance make him a strong contender for the Heisman.
In my opinion, the 2026 Heisman Trophy will go to Arch Manning. His ability to lead Texas to success and his impressive individual performance make him the clear favorite. However, Dante Moore, CJ Carr, and Trinidad Chambliss are also strong contenders, and the race for the Heisman will be hotly contested.
