2026 Heisman Watch: Ranking Our 7 Top Heisman Trophy Candidates Entering Week 4, including 2 Surprises

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Who will win the Heisman this year? It’s very early in the 2026 Heisman Watch, as we’re just three weeks through the 2026 college football season. Coming off a signature performance by Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, however, it’s clear who everyone is chasing right now.

Let’s dive into our rankings of the top Heisman Trophy candidates entering Week 4.

1. Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss

Heisman Watch, Ranking Heisman Trophy Candidates, Ole Miss Rebels, Trinidad Chambliss — Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) looks to pass the ball during a college football game between Ole Miss and LSU at Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

The Heisman Trophy is Trinidad Chambliss’s to lose right now. Saturday’s matchup against LSU, Lane Kiffin’s return, felt like one of the most important games in Ole Miss history. Chambliss responded on the national stage with 3 total touchdowns and a passing clinic through the air, including a clutch drive in the fourth quarter that he capped off with the game-deciding touchdown run. Chambliss might only rank 17th in QBR and 22nd in passing touchdowns, but putting up 699 passing yards and seven total touchdowns in ranked wins over Louisville (41-38) and LSU (32-24) carries far more weight.

Trinidad Chambliss stats (ESPN): 70% completion rate, 924 passing yards, 8.4 ypa, 7-2 TD-INT, 3 sacks taken, 64 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 81.4 ESPN QBR

2. Darian Mensah, QB, Miami Hurricanes

Heisman Watch, Ranking Heisman Trophy Candidates, Miami Hurricanes, Darian Mensah — Sep 10, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah (10) runs with the ball in the second quarter against the Florida A&M Rattlers at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

If stats were all that mattered in the Heisman Watch, Miami Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah would probably be atop the rankings. He’s been sensational through the air this season, delivering three-plus passing touchdowns in each start. What’s most remarkable to this point is his efficiency, with the junior throwing more passing touchdowns (11) than incompletions (eight) entering Week 4. He’s been everything Miami could’ve asked for and more this season, and it stands to reason this year might be the Hurricanes’ best shot at a national championship. However, Mensah’s wins and numbers have come against Stanford, Florida A&M, and Wake Forest. We need to see a Heisman-caliber moment from him against top competition. Unfortunately, there isn’t a ranked opponent on the Hurricanes’ schedule until Nov. 7 against Notre Dame.

Darian Mensah stats (ESPN): 89.9% completion rate, 873 passing yards, 11.1 ypa, 11-0 TD-INT, 1 sack taken, 31 rushing yards, 94.5 ESPN QBR

Read More: Week 4 College Football Rankings

3. Kamario Taylor, QB, Mississippi State Bulldogs

Heisman Watch, Ranking Heisman Trophy Candidates, Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State Bulldogs — Sep 19, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) passes against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

One of the best things about college football in September is the early breakout Heisman Trophy candidates. Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor, a 247Sports four-star recruit in the 2025 class, is the biggest standout. Like Darian Mensah, the 6-foot-4 passer has delivered three consecutive games with three-plus passing touchdowns, and he’s also rushed for 30-plus yards in every start this season. Last Saturday on the road in South Carolina, he put up four passing touchdowns with 284 total yards of offense, with a majority of that coming before the Gamecocks scored twice late in the fourth quarter to make it a 41-34 final score. Taylor now gets his chance for a signature moment, with Mississippi State hosting No. 19 Missouri on Saturday night.

Kamario Taylor stats (ESPN): 68.3% completion rate, 832 passing yards, 10.1 ypa, 11-1 TD-INT, 4 scks taken, 178 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 88.9 ESPN QBR

4. CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Heisman Watch, Ranking Heisman Trophy Candidates, Notre Dame FIghting Irish, CJ Carr — Sep 19, 2026; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr (13) looks to pass against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

Some context is required when stacking up CJ Carr with other Heisman Trophy candidates. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish don’t have much of a run game to speak of right now, entering Week 4 ranked 106th nationally in rushing (130 yards per game). Overcoming that, all the while not having an All-American wide receiver like Jeremiah Smith or Malachi Toney at your disposal, is a testament to Carr. The 6-foot-2 passer is coming off a modest performance against Michigan State (234 passing yards and 1 rushing touchdown) and he hasn’t faced a ranked opponent this year, so he belongs more on the third tier in our Heisman Watch than being a top candidate.

CJ Carr stats (ESPN): 72.6% completion rate, 726 passing yards, 9.9 ypa, 6-0 TD-INT, 2 sacks taken, 1 rushing touchdown, 87.8 ESPN QBR

5. Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida Gators

Heisman Watch, Ranking Heisman Trophy Candidates, Florida Gators, Jadan Baugh — Sep 12, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh (13) rushes with the ball against the Campbell Fighting Camels during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Putting Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh fifth in our Heisman Watch will come as a surprise to some, especially since he’s ahead of the likes of Malachi Toney and Jeremiah Smith. Here’s our case. Entering Week 4, Baugh ranks second in the nation in rushing at 458 yards, and he’s tied for the lead in rushing touchdowns with eight through three games. Among fellow workhorse running backs—those with 50-plus carries—Baugh’s 8.5 yards-per-carry average is unrivaled. The only other players close to him, such as Memphis’ Jaylin Carter, Texas State’s Torrance Burgess Jr., and Boise State’s Dylan Riley, don’t play in a Power 4 conference. Baugh carried Florida in its win last Saturday at Auburn (168 scrimmage yards and 3 touchdowns), and he could feast this Saturday on Mississippi’s defense. It’s unlikely we see a running back win the Heisman Trophy anytime soon, but Baugh is making a strong case for a trip to New York City.

Jadan Baugh stats (ESPN): 458 rushing yards, 8.5 yards per carry, 8 rushing touchdowns

6. Michael Hawkins Jr, QB, West Virginia Mountaineers

Heisman Watch, Ranking Heisman Trophy Candidates, West Virginia Mountaineers, Michael Hawkins Jr — Sep 19, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (3) runs along the sidelines for yards against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

If numbers are influencing what players are viable Heisman Trophy candidates, as seen with the case right now for Darian Mensah, then West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. belongs in the discussion. The Oklahoma transfer is thriving in Rich Rodriguez’s system while being mentored by assistant quarterbacks coach and WVU alum Pat White. In Saturday’s win against No. 25 Virginia, Hawkins rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns while tacking on 190 passing yards and two scores on just 10 completions in a 38-27 victory. He’s rushed for 100-plus yards twice this season, with the lone outlier being a 96-yard performance with two scores in a blowout win over UT Martin when Rodriguez pulled him early. Hawkins Jr.’s athleticism is why he boasts the second-best ESPN QBR (94.7) in the country right now, and he’s averaging 12.6 yards per pass attempt with a 68.4% completion rate to go with it. If West Virginia wins a shootout this week against Drew Mestemaker and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, maybe then Hawkins Jr. will get more national recognition.

MichaelHawkins Jr stats (ESPN): 68.4% completion rate, 477 passing yards, 12.6 ypa, 5-0 TD-INT, 2 sacks taken, 322 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns and 94.7 ESPN QBR

7. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State Buckeyes

Heisman Watch, Ranking Heisman Trophy Candidates, Jeremiah Smith — Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) makes a catch against Kent State Golden Flashes defensive back Norey Johnson (18) in the first quarter of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Sept. 19, 2026.

Jeremiah Smith is the best player in college football. In Week 3, he broke the Ohio State Buckeyes‘ all-time receiving yardage record (2,958) and he’ll become the first player in program history to eclipse 3,000 yards this coming Saturday. Soon after, he (30) will pass Marvin Harrison Jr. (31), David Boston (32) and eventually Chris Olave (35) for the most receiving touchdowns in Ohio State history, and the all-time receptions mark (Emeka Egbuka, 205) is also just 22 receptions away.

It’s apparent to anyone who watches Smith that he’s the best receiver in the nation. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get the same volume of targets as he would with another program and the Buckeyes have enough receiving depth to pull him from games when it’s trending toward a blowout. With that said, look at his 164-yard performance against the Texas Longhorns and witness every Saturday how much defensive attention he draws to open things up for his teammates. Smith’s impact goes far beyond anything you’ll see in the box score.

Jeremiah Smith stats (ESPN): 21 receptions, 400 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns

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