Darian Mensah, the Miami quarterback, absolutely exploded onto the 2026 Heisman Trophy scene this past Friday night. He immediately vaulted himself to the top of the odds board after a truly historic Week 1 performance. We’re talking about a guy who went from +1150 odds to the new favorite at +550 in a blink! Fernando Mendoza’s perfect 2025 season with Indiana, that national championship run, and his eventual first pick status in the NFL Draft are all in the rearview. Now, the path is wide open for someone new to grab that hardware in NYC this December, and Mensah threw down the gauntlet for sure.
Mensah’s Miami Debut Was Straight Fire
Seriously, this kid’s first game for Miami couldn’t have gone any better. He shredded the doubters, dropping a ridiculous 401 yards and five touchdowns on Friday night, all while completing over 90% of his passes. Think about that for a second: 400+ yards, five TDs, and 90% completion? That’s not just good, that’s historically good. Only six quarterbacks since 2000 have pulled off that kind of stat line in a single game. Mensah instantly put himself in elite company right out of the gate, and it’s exactly why his Heisman odds got completely re-written overnight. His surge from +1150, which was the fourth-shortest heading into the week, to the outright favorite at +550 shows everyone how much of a statement he made.
The Field Is Wide Open, But Who’s Chasing?
Before Mensah went absolutely bonkers, CJ Carr entered the season as the Heisman favorite. Now, he’s sitting at +800, down from +700, making him the second choice. Carr put together a seriously impressive true freshman year, completing 66.6% of his passes for 2,741 yards, throwing 24 touchdowns against just six interceptions. He’s making his 2026 debut Sunday night against Wisconsin, so you know he’s got Mensah’s numbers in his head and wants to make his own statement.
Then you’ve got Arch Manning and Texas, who made easy work of Texas State to open their season. Manning was pulled in the third quarter with a comfortable 40-point lead, but not before racking up 305 yards and four touchdowns on 20 of 27 passing. That’s efficiency, even in a blowout. And don’t sleep on receivers like Jeremiah Smith! This guy has his sights set on the Heisman, and he made that crystal clear Saturday, striking the pose after hauling in his second touchdown of the game. He finished with eight catches for 151 yards and two scores. Mensah’s Miami teammate, Malachi Toney, also had a “historic Week 1 performance” on Friday night and is right there at +1300. Plus, the source mentions a “familiar pair of Buckeyes” might have something to say about it after Saturday’s games, adding even more heat to this early race.
Here’s a quick look at the top contenders on the DraftKings Sportsbook odds board as of Sept. 5:
- Darian Mensah: +550
- CJ Carr: +800
- Arch Manning: +1000
- Jeremiah Smith: +1000
- Dante Moore: +1300
- Malachi Toney: +1300
- Julian Sayin: +1400
- Josh Hoover: +1900
- Trinidad Chambliss: +1900
- Jayden Maiava: +1900
- Sam Leavitt: +2200
- Keelon Russell: +2200
- Gunner Stockton: +2400
- John Mateer: +2800
- Marcel Reed: +3800
This Heisman race is already looking like a crazy one, and with CJ Carr making his 2026 debut Sunday night against Wisconsin, you know he’s gotta be pushing to one-up Mensah’s Week 1 explosion. Get ready, because the competition is officially heating up, and we’re only getting started! Who’s your money on right now?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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