Seven college football sleepers who could contend for Heisman Trophy
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If you’d placed a meaty wager on Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza to win the Heisman Trophy this time last summer, you’d be sipping Tiki drinks in Exuma right now.
Mendoza had 60-to-1 odds to win the Heisman.
That’s the thing about college football’s top award: You often don’t see the winner coming.
Before Mendoza, long-shot winners included Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, LSU’s Joe Burrow and Alabama’s DeVonta Smith.
Sure, you could do worse than backing a favorite like Texas’ Arch Manning or Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, but are you really going to get to Exuma by picking a front-runner?
For those dreaming bigger, I’ve got seven Heisman sleepers to consider. How do I define a Heisman sleeper? Their odds are worse than 15-to-1.
Full disclosure: I am a Heisman voter. I do not wager on the award.
Here are my top Heisman sleepers for the 2026 season:
Prime SEC Heisman Trophy sleeper candidates
QB Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
BetMGM odds: 25-to-1
I’m a sucker for dual-threat quarterbacks when predicting Heisman contenders. Reed oozes charisma, and he established recognition with voters after taking Texas A&M to the College Football Playoff last season. He’s blessed with a good group of wide receivers. A Black Friday clash against Texas and Manning will be a prime opportunity to impress before ballots are collected in December. He must reduce his interceptions and improve his play versus top competition.
QB Keelon Russell, Alabama
BetMGM odds: 35-to-1
First, Russell must win the quarterback job. He’s in a battle with veteran backup Austin Mack, who has more experience, but if Alabama is going to make the playoff, it needs a quarterback with superstar potential. That’s Russell.
A former five-star recruit, he’s a dual threat who outperformed Mack in the spring game. As Alabama defensive back Bray Hubbard put it, if you want to know how good Russell’s arm is, close your eyes and listen to him throw. The ball sizzles.
QB Gunner Stockton, Georgia
BetMGM odds: 16-to-1
The one thing missing from Kirby Smart’s Georgia tenure? A Heisman winner. Stockton has the tools, but does he have the wide receivers? Georgia could’ve used one more big-time receiver out of the portal, if you ask me.
Still, Stockton has a lot of what I’m looking for in a Heisman quarterback: good arm, sharp accuracy, a clutch gene and the ability to elevate in big moments. When Stockton and Manning squared off in November, who looked better? Enough said.
Bolder Heisman Trophy sleepers from outside SEC
WR Malachi Toney, Miami
BetMGM odds: 35-to-1
Toney was one of the nation’s best receivers as a freshman — and a heck of a punt returner. As a sophomore, he can win the Heisman. Miami should feast on an ACC schedule and return to the playoff, with plenty of stat-stuffing opportunities for Toney along the way. A November game against Notre Dame will be a key opportunity to woo voters. The Heisman typically becomes a quarterback contest, but a wide receiver can win, especially one as good as Toney.
RB Bo Jackson, Ohio State
BetMGM odds: 100-to-1
Voters awarded the Heisman to one Bo Jackson 41 years ago. Why not another? Ohio State’s schedule is loaded with marquee opponents. Jackson piling up 100-yard games (he had six of those last season) would build momentum. No running back has won the Heisman since Derrick Henry in 2015. Jackson will face Heisman competition from within his own team, because quarterback Julian Sayin or wide receiver Jeremiah Smith could mount bids. But, Bo Jackson, Heisman winner, has a familiar ring.
Demond Williams Jr., Washington
BetMGM odds: 50-to-1
Washington’s November schedule includes games against Penn State, Indiana and Oregon. Sure, that could be a recipe for disaster. Or it could be a stage for Williams to court voters. He threw for more than 3,000 yards as a sophomore, and he’s a running threat, too. Washington will be a preseason Top 25 team. If it’s in the playoff hunt in November, that’s good for a Williams candidacy.
Long, long, long odds to win the Heisman
WR Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama
BetMGM odds: 200-to-1
Coleman-Williams endured a bit of a sophomore slump following a freshman All-American season. He has become a major dark horse for the Heisman, but this is still the guy who once had 177 receiving yards against Georgia as a 17-year-old. He has added “Coleman” to his jersey surname to honor his mom. He also changed numbers. It’s all part of an effort to leave last year behind. He’s still just 19. He needs this to be a coming-of-age season.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seven college football sleepers who could contend for Heisman Trophy
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