THE WIRE

Quiet Week for Heisman Race After Texas's Impressive Win

Fourteen deskSideline

01 November 2026

The latest edition of the 2026 Heisman Trophy Watch will be a quieter one, after a light week on the college football schedule left the race largely unchanged. With no matchups between top-ranked teams, the latest odds reflect shifting momentum in the Heisman race following Texas's dramatic 24-21 win over Ohio State, while other candidates on the watchlist continued to strengthen their cases.

Heisman Moves Cool Slightly in Week Six

Darian Mensah, Stanford's quarterback, remains the favorite in the 2026 Heisman race after a dominant 385-yard, 4-touchdown performance against Washington in Week 5. Myles Medina of Miami has climbed the rankings with consistent play, while Joshua Chalmers of USC has slipped in the latest odds.

Arch Manning, Texas's quarterback, threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-10 win over Texas State, then followed with a strong showing against Ohio State last weekend. His teammate, tight end Archie Connor, also impressed with two touchdowns. Manning's recent performances have earned him a spot on the watchlist, with many analysts praising his development.

Drew Mestemaker from Oklahoma State and Michael Hawkins of West Virginia have entered the Heisman conversation, while Jeremiah Smith of Penn State maintains his position as one of the top candidates heading into October.

A Steady Trend in Heisman Odds

The most significant riser in the latest Heisman odds wasn't part of the previous week's movement. Michigan quarterback Jeremiah Smith extended his impressive 2026 season with another victory, passing for 350 yards and three touchdowns to bring his season total to 1,510 yards through five games.

Smith now holds a 5.4% chance to win the trophy, up from 4.7% two weeks prior. His emergence highlights how quarterback play increasingly factors into voters' short-term evaluations. The talented junior continues to demonstrate his dual-threat capabilities.

Behind Smith, Alabama quarterback Emeka Metu appears quietly positioned as potential dark horse candidate, making him one to watch as the season progresses.