Darian Mensah is still your Heisman frontrunner, clocking in with +575 odds as we roll into Week 3 of the 2026 college football season. The Miami quarterback has been nothing short of spectacular, leading the Hurricanes to demolish their first two opponents, Stanford and Florida A&M, by an unbelievable combined score of 122-13. The Duke transfer has been orchestrating that wildly dangerous offense to perfection, and it’s easy to see why he’s the favorite heading into their Friday matchup against Wake Forest.
The Race is Heating Up: New Blood and Big Movers
But let’s be real, this Heisman race is far from over. After that instant classic between Ohio State and Texas shook up the board, some seriously big names are coming for Mensah’s top spot. OSU wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is now breathing down Mensah’s neck at +750 odds. Get this, Smith’s odds actually *improved* from +800 last week, and he’s even leapfrogged his own quarterback, Julian Sayin, who now sits at +1600 as the seventh-best contender. Think about that: a receiver is ahead of his QB in the Heisman race! Following these top two, you’ve got football royalty in the mix, with Texas’ Arch Manning at +900 and Notre Dame QB CJ Carr at +1100. Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss is also lurking with +1400 odds. It’s a stacked field, with every big play potentially changing everything on the odds board.
Miami’s Double-Edged Sword and Shifting Fortunes
Here’s where it gets wild: Mensah’s true sophomore teammate, Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney, is also on this list at +1200! Can you believe it? Two top Heisman candidates on the same team. While that sounds amazing for the Hurricanes, it could become a real problem when those Heisman votes start rolling in. Voters are gonna have to decide which Miami player deserves more credit for their success, and that could absolutely split the vote and jeopardize Mensah’s chances.
Beyond the top contenders, Week 3 has seen some serious risers too. Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor jumped from +15000 all the way to +2000. Georgia QB Gunner Stockton made a move from +3300 to +2200, and SMU QB Kevin Jennings climbed from +7500 to +4000. On the flip side, Oregon QB Dante Moore took a massive hit, dropping from +1100 to +4000, tumbling from tied for third to tied for 13th after the Oklahoma State Cowboys pulled off a huge upset against the Ducks. Talk about a brutal week.
Mensah and the Hurricanes hit the field against Wake Forest on Friday. Every snap counts for him now. He’s got to keep that perfect orchestration going, not just to beat Wake Forest, but to hold off Smith and even his own teammate, Toney, if he wants to stay at the top of the Heisman heap. This race is just getting started, and it’s gonna be appointment viewing!
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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