Saturday’s action made the 2026 Heisman Trophy race a lot clearer, with Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith solidifying his spot as the favorite while Texas quarterback Arch Manning’s hopes took a serious hit. The updated odds from FanDuel Sportsbook tell a stark story about who is leading the pack and who is falling behind.
Smith’s Dominant Standout Performance
Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith continues to blaze a trail, cementing his status as the Heisman frontrunner. The star wide receiver improved his already impressive odds by snagging two touchdown receptions. That performance came during the No. 5 Buckeyes’ convincing 45-16 victory over Maryland. Smith’s consistent output is clearly making him the player to beat in this race.
Arch Manning’s Hopes Take a Hit
On the flip side, Arch Manning saw his Heisman Trophy aspirations suffer a significant setback. The No. 1 Texas Longhorns were stunned in a 27-24 upset loss to Oklahoma, a result that definitely didn’t help Manning’s individual narrative. For a quarterback looking to lead his team to glory and secure college football’s most prestigious individual award, an upset of that magnitude casts a long shadow over his campaign.
The Updated Heisman Odds Reveal a Clear Favorite
The FanDuel Sportsbook updated odds now paint a very specific picture of the Heisman landscape. Jeremiah Smith leads the way at -195, a dominant position this deep into the season. Keelon Russell, Alabama’s quarterback, is next up at +650, followed by Darian Mensah and CJ Carr, both at +1200. Trinidad Chambliss sits at +1500. The drop-off from Smith is significant. Julian Sayin and Gunner Stockton are listed at +3000, while Drew Mestemaker and Josh Hoover are at +4000. Kamario Taylor rounds out the longer shots at +5500. Arch Manning now finds himself way down the list at +6500, tied with Malachi Toney. The gap between Smith and the field has only grown.
With Smith at -195, it feels like his Heisman to lose right now. Can anyone from the chasing pack, now well behind him in the odds, mount a serious challenge in the weeks to come? We will all be watching closely as the season continues to unfold.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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