1) Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Fernando Mendoza just snagged the Heisman Trophy, won a national championship and went No. 1 overall in the NFL draft. Could Peyton and Eli’s nephew follow suit? Arch should post spectacular numbers while directing an offense that is loaded with firepower out wide and in the backfield. The addition of an NFL WR1 prospect, Auburn transfer Cam Coleman, gives the 6-foot-4, 222-pound signal-caller an explosive weapon to target on vertical routes. Coleman also flashes the playmaking skills to shine on catch-and-run concepts, which will allow Manning to string together completions at an impressive clip. With Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian masterfully designing “winners” that frequently produce walk-in scores, Manning should have an inside track on winning the prestigious honor with gaudy stats and a sizzling highlight reel that captures the attention of voters. It would be a new piece of hardware for the first family of football. Peyton was the Heisman runner-up in his final season at Tennessee, while Eli finished third as a senior at Mississippi. Arch’s grandfather, Archie, had a pair of top-five finishes during his time at Ole Miss.
2) CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
The leader of college football’s biggest brand will have an opportunity to claim the award with an efficient performance in a workmanlike offense that pulverizes opponents for four quarters. While it is unlikely Carr will produce the kind of eye-popping numbers that observers typically expect from quarterbacks who win the award, there is something magical about his leadership skills and clutch play that could separate him from the rest of the pack. With a very manageable schedule, Notre Dame should spend all season squarely in the mix for the College Football Playoff. And this crafty playmaker — who is the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr — will have a chance to show voters that he is the straw that stirs the drink for a high-profile team with serious national title aspirations.
3) Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
The sensational playmaker has a chance to build the most impressive résumé of all contenders, with a bevy of marquee matchups against the likes of Ohio State, USC, Michigan and Washington on the schedule. If Moore shows off the precision passing skills that helped him amass 3,565 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025, the 6-3, 220-pounder could make a strong case to claim the award. Although he must curb his turnovers and show growth from his disappointing performance in the College Football Playoff semifinal loss to eventual champion Indiana, Moore can write a fairy tale ending to his story if he takes his game up a notch this season.
4) Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
It is rare for a pass catcher to win the award, but Smith is a unicorn who puts up striking numbers as the Buckeyes’ No. 1 option (SEE: 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024; 1,243 yards and 12 TDs in ’25). A silky-smooth route runner with explosive running skills and sticky hands, Smith is the prototypical NFL WR1. Whether facing double coverage or bracket tactics, the 6-4, 222-pounder is an unstoppable force on the perimeter. DeVonta Smith is the only pure receiver to win the Heisman this millennium (Travis Hunter took home the hardware as a WR/CB), but Jeremiah Smith’s dominance and production could force voters to think outside of the box.