2026 Heisman Trophy expert rankings: Jeremiah Smith leads the way after Week 5

We’ve reached October, and with conference play getting into full swing, we’re starting to have a clearer picture about who the best players in college football are. 

It’s never too early to really start breaking down the race for the Heisman Trophy, the nation’s most prestigious award, and so far in 2026, there are some major stars breaking out through five weeks. 

Expert Heisman Trophy rankings after Week 5

As such, we’re going to share our five top Heisman candidates thus far, and No. 1 is coming off a monster performance against a ranked foe. 

Honorable mentions: Ohio State QB Julian Sayin, Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss, Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor, Florida RB Jadan Baugh

5: Georgia QB Gunner Stockton 

Georgia has had a softer start to the year, but the Bulldogs have taken full advantage with a 5-0 start. Despite being on the No. 2 team in the country and playing well to date, it feels like Stockton is flying a bit under the radar. That will almost certainly change moving forward given the Bulldogs have a tough stretch of opponents coming up, beginning next week against Alabama and another Heisman hopeful. 

Regardless, Stockton has been one of the nation’s best and most efficient quarterbacks to date. He’s tossed 13 touchdowns to one interception and has added 122 yards with his legs as well. The Bulldogs are a perfect 5-0, and their quarterback is a big reason why. A strong showing next weekend against Alabama will have Stockton more top of mind when it comes to the Heisman conversation. 

4: Notre Dame QB CJ Carr

Carr was excellent as Notre Dame’s starter last year, tossing 24 touchdowns to six interceptions with three rushing scores. He was efficient, completing 66.6% of his passes, but Carr has taken his game to another level thus far. 

Carr has tossed 13 touchdowns and thrown one pick, and he’s added three more scores with his legs. Carr is also completing 71% of his passes and is coming off a five-touchdown outing against North Carolina over the weekend. 

The Irish have a pretty soft schedule this year, and that’s been especially true in the early goings. Carr has taken full advantage, and he’ll have his first big test later this month with a trip to Provo and the BYU Cougars on tap. 

3: Alabama QB Keelon Russell 

This is Year 3 for Kalen DeBoer at Alabama, and Russell is his third quarterback. I don’t want to say “third time’s the charm” considering Jalen Milroe led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff the year before DeBoer’s arrival and Ty Simpson went to the CFP and was a first-round pick last year, but Russell is playing lights out so far and has the Tide looking arguably the best they’ve looked since DeBoer came to town. 

Russell was good in his first start against ECU before tossing two picks to one touchdown against Kentucky in Week 2, but he’s been incredible of late. Russell has 11 passing touchdowns this year, and 10 have come over the last three weeks in wins over Florida State, South Carolina and Mississippi State. Russell is also a dynamic runner who has four rushing touchdowns, with three coming over the last three weeks. 

And, most importantly, Russell has the Tide 5-0 heading into next week’s showdown with undefeated Georgia. 

We talked about Stockton being a Heisman candidate who may be a bit slept on overall, so whichever quarterback wins – and likely plays better in the process – will have a strong Heisman claim under their belt. 

2: Miami QB Darian Mensah

Miami has had a great run of transfer quarterbacks doing great things the last few years in Cam Ward and Carson Beck. Mensah, who transferred from Duke by way of Tulane, has taken it to another level.

Now, the Hurricanes haven’t really played anyone of note just yet besides Wake Forest, but they have been an absolute freight train overall, and Mensah is the biggest reason why. He’s completing 84.2% of his passes for 15 touchdowns and no interceptions with two rushing scores as well. Mensah has 15 touchdowns to 21 incompletions on the year. 

So far, Mensah is doing everything you could ask for out of a quarterback. He’s accurate, decisive, takes what the defense gives him but also makes big plays down the field. Mensah is playing the best at his position in the country right now, and I’m not sure it’s particularly close. 

We often talk about “Heisman moments” for winners of this award, and with that in mind, circle Nov. 7 on your calendar when Mensah and the Canes visit the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. It’d be surprising if even one of these teams had a loss heading into that game. A strong showing from Mensah in a Miami win would go a long way in his Heisman candidacy.

1: Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

Smith is the best player in the country, and there’s a case to be made he’s been the best player in the country dating back to even his freshman year. He’s a lock to go early in next April’s NFL Draft, and his blend of size, speed, route running, explosiveness, catch radius and body control has Smith drawing comparisons to some of the top receiving prospects of the last 20 years like Julio Jones. 

Through five games, Smith has been unguardable. He’s caught 44 passes for 823 yards and nine touchdowns. He leads the nation in all three categories, and he now has the Ohio State record for career catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Not bad for someone who may have as many as 12 games left to play in his college career. 

Sayin, who I have as an honorable mention this year, has 1,530 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. Smith has more than half of both of those categories. 

The Buckeyes’ win over Iowa really cemented Smith’s status as the Heisman frontrunner in my eyes. The Hawkeyes have long had an elite defense, and Phil Parker is one of the best defensive minds in the game. Yet Smith still had 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns! It’s getting to the point where double coverage, extra safety help and chips at the line of scrimmage really aren’t doing anything. Smith draws more gravity than any player in the country, yet he produces at an elite level nonetheless. 

There haven’t been many true full-time receivers to win the Heisman, but Smith has a very strong case to join that exclusive club right now.