Can't Wait For Saturday Quarterbacks get all the Heisman love, but a receiver is at the top of my list going into '26
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Jun. 22—***
During the final two weeks of June, I am using this space to count down the top Heisman Trophy candidates for 2026.
For the top spot, let's go with the third Buckeyes to make the list. Starting Tuesday, I'm going to give you 10 guys who aren't on most Heisman Top 10s … today. Like Fernando Mendoza going into 2025.
Why is he on the list?
In more than 40 years covering college football, I've only seen a few players in person who made me say "he is one of the greatest of all time."
Certainly, Barry Sanders is on that list after a brilliant career at Oklahoma State and with the Detroit Lions. And Ndamukong Suh blew me away with his athleticism in college and the pros. The third GOAT: Ohio State superstar Smith.
College football fans, thanks to an NFL rules that forces players to stay three seasons in college, get one more look at Smith in 2026. Then, he will picked among the Top Five in the 2027 draft. If I am the GM, he would be No. 1. A once-in-a-lifetime player.
Even better, I will see him play in person this season at the best venue in college football: Ohio Stadium. Maybe the Sept. 26 matchup for Bret Bielema's team isn't the best way to start the Big Ten season. But the players and coaches always talk about wanting to play the best. In 2026 that will be Smith and the Buckeyes.
Fortunately for Smith, he's got a talented quarterback, Julian Sayin, firing passes his way. And a talented runner, Bo Jackson, putting pressure on the defense.
Ohio State will be tested by a schedule that includes Texas, Iowa, Southern California, Indiana, Oregon and Michigan. Yikes.
The last receiver to win the Heisman put together a near-flawless season for the Crimson Tide, with 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns. He became the first receiver to win the Heisman since Michigan's Desmond Howard in 1991. Both Smith and Howard were on my Heisman ballots.
DeVonta Smith has been a standout in the NFL with the Eagles. But Jeremiah Smith is bigger and has the potential to be better pro.
2. Arch Manning Texas quarterback
3. Malachi Toney Miami receiver
4. Julian Sayin Ohio State quarterback
5. Trinidad Chambliss Mississippi quarterback
6. CJ Carr, Notre Dame quarterback
7. Dante Moore, Oregon quarterback
8. Demond Williams Jr., Washington quarterback
9. Josh Hoover, Indiana quarterback
10. Darian Mensah, Miami quarterback
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