Jeremiah Smith, the Ohio State wide receiver everyone had pegged as the 2026 Heisman Trophy favorite, isn’t the guy anymore. Not after Week 9, and definitely not after Saturday’s action. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah just swooped in, taking over that top spot.
The Weekend Whammy That Flipped the Board
Smith was sitting pretty as the betting favorite heading into Saturday’s matchup against USC. But man, did that go sideways for the Buckeyes. Ohio State took a crushing 30-18 upset loss at the hands of the Trojans, dropping them to 6-2 on the season. Smith still put in work, catching 10 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, even with backup QB Luke Fahey throwing to him, but it wasn’t enough to save the Buckeyes’ record or his Heisman pole position.
Meanwhile, Mensah and his Miami squad rolled. They snatched a hard-fought 38-35 victory at North Carolina, and Mensah was absolutely dealing. He finished 22-of-29 for 274 yards and three touchdowns, all without a single pick. His teammate, wide receiver Malachi Toney, also boosted his own Heisman stock in that game, grabbing seven receptions for 75 yards and two scores. That’s how you make a statement on a big Saturday night.
Heisman Race: New Frontrunner, New Contenders
This shake-up means Mensah is now the clear favorite at +170, according to FanDuel Sportsbook’s Saturday evening odds. Smith slid to +300, and Toney isn’t far behind Mensah, sitting at +340. Notre Dame’s CJ Carr remains among the favorites at +1100 after leading his team to a Saturday win over Navy. The whole Heisman race is looking way different than it did even a few weeks ago.
Early-season darlings like Texas quarterback Arch Manning have struggled in his first full year as a starter, and Oregon’s Dante Moore is unfortunately out for the season with a concussion. That’s opened the door for some fresh faces to climb the boards. We’re talking Oregon State wide receiver Jesse Legree and Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker, both now sitting at +2200 after making moves recently.
The Heisman picture just flipped on its head, and Week 9 isn’t even fully in the books. Keep an eye on that Oregon State vs. Fresno State matchup as the action continues. This race is wide open, and with guys like Mensah making big moves and unexpected upsets shaking things up, it’s gonna be a wild ride to see who takes home the trophy this year. Who’s next to jump up those odds?
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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