Dante Moore, the Oregon Ducks quarterback, is already sitting atop the 2026 Heisman Watch rankings before Week 1 even kicks off. His numbers from last season tell you why he’s the frontrunner: a 71.8% completion rate, nearly 3,600 passing yards, and 32 total touchdowns. Yeah, that Indiana game was a clear blemish that cost him, but the dude was on fire for most of the year.
Why Moore Is Leading The Pack
The Ducks’ schedule looks more favorable this year, and his receiving corps is both healthier and deeper than last season. Even with a new offensive coordinator in Eugene, Moore is expected to rack up the record, signature wins, and gaudy statistics needed to win the Heisman. This guy is the real deal heading into the season.
Carr And Manning Gunning For Glory
Then you’ve got CJ Carr, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish QB. This kid was a first-year starter in 2025 and he balled out, ranking eighth nationally in ESPN QBR with an 83.4 score. He completed 66.6% of his passes and averaged 9.4 yards per attempt. With Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price now gone to the NFL, there’s even more weight from that offense squarely on Carr’s shoulders. That’s a lot of pressure, but it also means he’ll have big opportunities for Heisman moments: at BYU (Oct. 17), against Miami (Nov. 7), and against SMU (Nov. 21). But here’s the kicker: if Oregon and Notre Dame have nearly identical records, experts think Moore’s flashier stats could be the deciding factor for some voters. That is a massive detail, something to watch out for.
Arch Manning for the Texas Longhorns has the talent for Heisman-worthy stats, no doubt. He’s more than capable of putting up 45 total touchdowns this season while completing at least 65 percent of his passes, with a highlight reel of a dual-threat quarterback that can be reminiscent of Caleb Williams and Baker Mayfield. There are also ample opportunities for him to have signature moments on the biggest stage. The problem? We don’t think the Texas Longhorns will win enough games this fall for Manning to actually overtake Dante Moore and CJ Carr. That says more about the difficulties of the SEC schedule, but the win-loss column will sway voters big time.
Week 1 is here, and the Heisman race is already lit. Can Moore keep up that insane pace? Will Carr snatch those critical moments? And can Manning overcome the team record to claim the trophy? Get ready, college football fans, this season is gonna be epic!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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