The Heisman Trophy race is already starting to heat up a month into the college football season, and get this: it looks like we might actually see a non-quarterback take home the award for the second time in three years. No, seriously, it’s happening.
Jeremiah Smith and Jadan Baugh Are on Another Level
Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith? Dude is essentially an NFL player absolutely torching college athletes right now. What Smith is doing to opposing defensive backs is just flat out unfair. He is on a mission to make history with a monstrous season. Even in a loss to Texas, he reeled in eight receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown. Then last week, he went absolutely preposterous with 12 receptions, 217 yards, and four touchdowns. The guy leads all FBS players in receiving yards with 617 and receiving touchdowns with seven. Wild!
And down in The Swamp, Florida’s Jadan Baugh is an absolute terror on the ground. Seriously, every time he touches the football, there’s a good chance it’s six points. He leads the entire country with 11 touchdowns on just 83 attempts, meaning he’s hitting the end zone on a ridiculous 13.3% of his carries. Coming off a 142-yard, three-touchdown performance against No. 4 Ole Miss, Baugh has already delivered a superstar moment in a marquee game. These two have been tremendous.
But Don’t Count Out These QBs Just Yet
Of course, it’s college football, so you know there are quarterbacks lurking. Miami’s Darian Mensah simply cannot miss. This dude has more touchdown passes (14) than incompletions (12). No shocker he leads all FBS quarterbacks with an 88.7 completion percentage. That’s insane accuracy.
Then there’s Keelon Russell from Alabama, who already looks like a superstar. He’s up to 11 total touchdowns after a nuclear performance against South Carolina. And honestly, it doesn’t even matter that the Crimson Tide running game is still far from perfect, because Russell can paper over those flaws himself.
And we can’t forget Kamario Taylor from Mississippi State. His 14 passing touchdowns are tied with Mensah for the most in college football, and honestly, he might be the best story in the whole sport. Taylor has single-handedly elevated the ceiling for Mississippi State this fall.
We’re only one month in, but the 2026 Heisman race is already getting spicy. With non-QBs making serious noise and these signal-callers throwing bombs, who knows how this thing will shake out? You gotta keep your eyes glued to the TV every Saturday, because this is shaping up to be one for the ages.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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