The Heisman Trophy race is tightening up faster than a drum, with only six players left at 25-to-1 odds or lower, and the biggest favorite, Jeremiah Smith, just took a massive hit to his chances. His starting quarterback, Julian Sayin, is now sidelined for the regular season, and potentially the postseason, meaning Smith is suddenly playing with a backup under center. This changes everything for the Ohio State star, especially after Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney of Miami absolutely torched Pitt, putting serious pressure on Smith’s once-commanding lead.
Smith’s Streak Meets a Quarterback Conundrum
Jeremiah Smith, currently sitting at +110 odds, is on an absolute heater, there’s no denying it. He’s led Ohio State in receiving yards in all seven games they’ve played this season, and over his last four games, he’s pulled in a ridiculous 31 catches for 584 yards and nine touchdowns. With 52 receptions, 984 receiving yards, 18.9 yards per catch, and 12 touchdowns on the year, he’s been unstoppable. But now, after a bye week that was supposed to help him gel with a new starting quarterback, Ryan Day still hasn’t named his guy between Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair. That uncertainty, paired with a ranked road game at USC coming up, puts Smith in serious jeopardy. He has to carry this offense, unscathed, all the way to the Big Ten Championship, or his Heisman dreams might just vanish.
Miami’s Duo Demolishes, Mensah and Toney Take Aim
While Smith was on bye, the Miami Hurricanes, led by Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney, absolutely responded to anyone who doubted their No. 1 ranking. Mensah, now at +300 odds, delivered a clinic against Pitt, tossing four touchdowns and 387 yards on a scorching 31-of-37 passing, hitting 83.8% completion with zero interceptions. The Hurricanes rolled, dropping 52 points and putting up 506 yards of total offense in the win. Malachi Toney, sitting at +350 odds, was the main beneficiary, snagging 194 of Mensah’s 387 yards and three of his four touchdowns. Toney didn’t just have a great game, he had a career-high and program record with 16 receptions! He was flat-out unguardable, with 12 catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone. Toney has scored in six of seven games this season and already has five 100-plus yard receiving games. These two are a problem, and they just announced their Heisman intentions loud and clear.
What’s Next for the Top Contenders?
The road ahead is critical for all three. Jeremiah Smith takes his Ohio State squad into a ranked road game at USC this Saturday at 7:30 PM ET. This is a massive test for him and whatever new quarterback steps under center. Meanwhile, Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney head to Chapel Hill to face North Carolina, also on Saturday at 7:30 PM ET. The Tar Heels rank 11th in coverage grades this season, which might seem like a challenge for Toney on paper, but after his performance against Pitt, something tells us he won’t see it that way. Mensah also had a 175-yard, one-touchdown performance against North Carolina last year with Duke in a 32-25 win. Miami then faces Notre Dame on November 7, so this North Carolina game could be a classic “letdown spot” for the Hurricanes. The Heisman race is heating up, and every single snap matters from here on out.
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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