Five Heisman Sleepers Nobody Should Ignore in 2026
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Everybody knows the big names entering the 2026 Heisman Trophy race. CJ Carr, Trinidad Chambliss, Dante Moore, Darian Mensah and Jeremiah Smith are going to dominate the preseason conversation.
But every year, somebody comes out of nowhere and forces their way into New York.
So who are the guys being overlooked right now?
Here are five Heisman sleepers who could completely change the race in 2026.
Marcel Reed — Texas A&M
Marcel Reed might be one of the easiest sleeper candidates to talk yourself into.
Reed has the combination Heisman voters love: quarterback, SEC contender and legitimate dual-threat ability. If Texas A&M is competing for an SEC championship late in the season, Reed will have plenty of opportunities to put himself in the national spotlight.
And he’s not exactly buried on the odds board. Recent Heisman odds have Reed around 25/1, behind most of the quarterbacks getting the biggest preseason hype.
The formula is pretty simple.
If Texas A&M wins 10 or 11 games and Reed becomes the reason why, he’ll be in the conversation.
Gunner Stockton — Georgia
How is the starting quarterback at Georgia somehow flying under the radar?
Gunner Stockton isn’t the flashy preseason Heisman pick, but he might have one of the clearest paths of anyone on this list.
Georgia is expected to compete for another SEC championship and national title. That means Stockton is going to play in some of the biggest games of the season with one of the most talented rosters in America around him.
He’s already sitting around 18/1 in recent Heisman odds, so the sportsbooks clearly aren’t dismissing the possibility.
If Georgia is undefeated or sitting with one loss entering November and Stockton is putting up big numbers, his name is naturally going to climb.
Sometimes the best Heisman argument is simply being the quarterback of one of America’s best teams.
LaNorris Sellers — South Carolina
This one comes with significantly more risk.
But the upside is ridiculous.
LaNorris Sellers has already shown enough physical ability to make you wonder what could happen if everything finally clicks at South Carolina.
He’s 6-foot-3, around 240 pounds and can hurt defenses as both a passer and runner. He’s exactly the type of quarterback who can produce the highlight plays that suddenly turn a good season into a Heisman campaign.
The obvious problem is South Carolina.
The Gamecocks went 4-8 last season, and Sellers isn’t winning the Heisman if they’re fighting just to become bowl eligible.
But remember what South Carolina did the year before: 9-3 and right on the edge of the College Football Playoff discussion.
Sellers is around 18/1 in recent Heisman odds, tied with Stockton and ahead of several other notable quarterbacks.
If South Carolina experiences another massive turnaround and Sellers is the reason behind it, his story could become one of the biggest in college football.
Rocco Becht — Penn State
Here’s a name that isn’t getting nearly enough attention.
After transferring from Iowa State to Penn State and following head coach Matt Campbell to Happy Valley, Rocco Becht now gets an opportunity to prove himself in the Big Ten.
And Becht isn’t some inexperienced quarterback hoping everything works out.
He brings years of starting experience into a Penn State program that has the potential to compete near the top of the conference.
Recent Heisman odds have Becht all the way around 60/1.
That’s what makes him a legitimate sleeper.
If Penn State takes off under Campbell and Becht becomes the face of that turnaround, suddenly those years of experience at Iowa State become extremely valuable.
A veteran quarterback leading Penn State into playoff contention?
That’s a Heisman storyline waiting to happen.
Ahmad Hardy — Missouri
Ahmad Hardy might be the biggest wild card on this entire list.
Before anything else, the most important thing is his recovery.
Hardy was shot in the upper leg while attending a concert in Mississippi in May and required surgery. Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz announced in July that Hardy had been medically cleared from the gunshot wound, although there was still no definitive timeline for his return to game action.
As of this week, Hardy still wasn’t a full participant in Missouri’s practices while continuing his rehabilitation.
But if he gets healthy?
Don’t forget how good this guy is.
Hardy was a consensus All-American and Doak Walker Award finalist in 2025. And while quarterbacks dominate modern Heisman voting, an elite running back putting up monster numbers in the SEC can still force his way into the conversation.
Hardy’s current odds around 100/1 show just how much uncertainty surrounds his situation.
But that’s exactly why he’s a sleeper.
The comeback story would be incredible, but Hardy obviously needs to get completely healthy first. If that happens and he eventually returns to being the player we saw last season, Missouri could have one of the most interesting Heisman candidates in the country.
Don’t Sleep on These Five
None of these players need to be considered a Heisman favorite right now.
That’s the entire point.
Marcel Reed has Texas A&M. Gunner Stockton has Georgia. LaNorris Sellers has ridiculous upside. Rocco Becht has a fresh start at Penn State. Ahmad Hardy has already proven he can be one of America’s best running backs.
By December, there’s a good chance at least one player nobody was talking enough about in August will be sitting in New York.
Don’t be surprised if it’s one of these five.
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