College Football

College football Heisman Trophy watch after Week 6

October 12, 2026

With college football’s regular season halfway complete, the Heisman Trophy race is heating up as eight unbeaten teams remain in contention. Oklahoma’s loss to Texas eliminated Arch Manning from the conversation after two costly interceptions, but other quarterbacks and wideouts are stepping forward.

Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, though he had a quieter outing against Maryland with just four catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns, has already amassed 916 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches this season. His production places him among the nation’s leaders in receptions and receiving yards, putting him on track to become the third wide receiver in seven years to win the award, following in the footsteps of Travis Hunter and DaVonta Smith.

Meanwhile, Miami’s Darian Mensah has been a force at quarterback, completing 84.2% of his passes while throwing for 15 touchdowns and zero interceptions. His efficiency and clutch performances, including a 227-yard, one-touchdown game against Clemson, have solidified his place in the Heisman conversation.

Notre Dame’s CJ Carr has also been a standout, throwing for 16 touchdowns and just one interception while leading the Fighting Irish to a 6-0 start. With undefeated teams and standout performances, the race for the Heisman is far from over as these players continue to dominate on the field.