The Miami Hurricanes are the undisputed No. 1 team in the country, absolutely dominating in a 2026 season that’s been pure chaos for everyone else. Heading into Week 9, they’re one of only three undefeated teams left in the FBS, and their high-octane offense is why. But get this: their two biggest weapons, quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney, are right there at No. 2 and No. 3 in the Heisman Trophy odds, and while that sounds amazing, it could actually bite them hard.
The Heisman History Lesson Miami Can’t Ignore
This isn’t just some hypothetical worry either. Miami fans remember 2002 when Willis McGahee and Ken Dorsey were both tearing it up. They ended up No. 4 and No. 5 in Heisman voting, but get this: they split 223 first-place votes almost evenly, 122 for McGahee, 101 for Dorsey. If you combined those, one of them would have jumped all the way to No. 2 behind Carson Palmer. That’s exactly the kind of situation Mensah and Toney are walking into right now. Many voters will find themselves trying to pick between them, and as the season gets wilder, that debate is only going to heat up. Sure, both guys are gonna shrug it off, say “team success matters most,” and they’re right, Miami is trying to snap a 25-year national title drought. But they’ve also got a 34-year Heisman drought to end too. Gino Torretta won it way back in 1992! Having two legit contenders for college football’s most prestigious award is a dream, but it’s also a high-wire act that could work against both players by splitting votes.
Darian Mensah’s Case: Best QB in the Game?
Alright, let’s talk about Darian Mensah. The Heisman has basically become a quarterback award for decades, and Mensah is straight-up proving he’s the best signal-caller in college football. Seriously, his statistical profile isn’t just good, it’s the best among QBs, and nobody else is even close. We’ve seen some good quarterbacks at Miami recently, guys like Cam Ward and Carson Beck. But Mensah? He’s clearing them. Beck was efficient, yeah, but the offense wasn’t dynamic, and he had turnover issues at times. Ward brought the big plays, no doubt, but it felt stop-and-start, with a lower completion percentage. Mensah, though, he’s got it all. He blends ruthless efficiency with that huge playmaking ability. The result? This Hurricanes offense is just tearing it up, absolutely dominant. He carves up defenses in Shannon Dawson’s system like a surgeon, leading Miami to an insane 49.0 points per game. That’s the best in the nation, by nearly six whole points. Six points! That’s not just good, that’s historically good. This dude is special.
So, here we are: Miami is No. 1, Mensah and Toney are Heisman contenders, but this whole “two stars on one team” thing could be their Achilles’ heel. Can they both shine enough to avoid the vote split, or will they watch another year’s Heisman slip away because they were too good together? The back half of this season is going to be wild to watch unfold.
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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