Could Auburn’s Byrum Brown Be a Heisman Dark Horse?

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When the 2026 college football season began, Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown wasn’t among the names receiving the most attention in the Heisman Trophy race.

That could change quickly.

Brown enters his first season at Auburn after transferring from USF, where he established himself as one of the most productive dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. Now playing in the SEC, Brown has an opportunity to put his talents on the biggest stage in college football.

The Production Is Already There

The biggest reason Brown deserves to be mentioned as a Heisman dark horse is his statistical production.

In 2025 at USF, Brown threw for 3,158 yards, 28 touchdowns and only seven interceptions while adding 1,008 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. He was the only quarterback in the country to reach both 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards that season.

That’s the kind of production that gets Heisman voters’ attention.

Brown also has plenty of experience. Auburn’s official roster notes that he started 32 career games at USF and owns 15 school records.

The SEC Is the Big Question

The biggest question surrounding Brown is whether he can duplicate that production against SEC competition.

The conference is a significant step up from the American Athletic Conference, and Brown will face some of the best defenses in the country throughout the season.

But that’s also what makes him such an intriguing candidate.

If Brown can produce at a high level against SEC defenses while leading Auburn into the conference race, his name could go from “dark horse” to legitimate Heisman contender very quickly.

Auburn Could Be the Difference

Brown’s Heisman chances will ultimately depend on how successful Auburn is.

National recognition usually follows winning, especially for quarterbacks. If new head coach Alex Golesh can turn Auburn into an SEC contender, Brown will have the opportunity to become the face of that turnaround.

CBS Sports has already identified Brown as a potential Heisman dark horse, with one analyst suggesting that if Golesh can make Auburn an immediate contender, Brown has the talent to enter the conversation.

That’s the path.

Put up big numbers. Beat ranked opponents. Keep Auburn in the SEC race.

Do that, and Brown could find himself in New York at the end of the season.

Don’t Forget About His Legs

One thing that separates Brown from many of the other Heisman candidates is his ability to impact a game as both a passer and a runner.

A quarterback who can throw for 3,000-plus yards while also approaching or surpassing 1,000 rushing yards gives defenses an enormous problem.

If Brown can become more efficient as a passer while maintaining his explosiveness as a runner, Auburn could have one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the country.

A Long Shot Worth Watching

Brown isn’t currently viewed as one of the favorites. In fact, he was listed at 55/1 in one recent Heisman odds market, showing just how much ground he has to make up.

But that’s exactly what makes him a dark horse.

The talent is there. The production is there. The experience is there.

Now Brown has to prove he can do it in the SEC.

If Byrum Brown leads Auburn to a breakthrough season, don’t be surprised if his name becomes one of the biggest stories in the 2026 Heisman Trophy race.

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