Show summary Hide summary
- Why a wide receiver Heisman win is so rare
- How Malachi Toney’s season stacks up to DeVonta Smith’s 2020 pace
- Jeremiah Smith’s numbers: a different path to Heisman contention
- Revisiting DeVonta Smith’s Heisman-winning 2020 season
- How the players are talking about their Heisman bids
- Current betting landscape: 2026 Heisman odds and favorites
- What to watch in the coming weeks for Heisman voters
The race for the 2026 Heisman is heating up as voters prepare to cast ballots in about six weeks. Two wide receivers — Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Miami’s Malachi Toney — have surged into the spotlight, challenging the long trend of quarterbacks and running backs dominating the trophy race.
Why a wide receiver Heisman win is so rare
Wideouts rarely top the Heisman ballot. Only a handful of receivers have captured the trophy, and most combined elite receiving with special-teams impact.
Malachi Toney vs Jeremiah Smith ignite early 2026 Heisman debate: who has the edge?
Daytime Emmys 2026 red carpet: Keke Palmer, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jennifer Hudson steal the show
- Tim Brown, Notre Dame (1987) — One of the first wideouts to win.
- Desmond Howard, Michigan (1991) — A Heisman season that included dynamic return work.
- DeVonta Smith, Alabama (2020) — Broke a long drought for receivers with a historic senior year.
- Travis Hunter, Colorado (2024) — A two-way player whose defensive contributions helped his case.
What unites most of these winners is versatility. Several combined receiving with return duties. Two-way players, like Hunter, stand out but are uncommon. That makes Smith and Toney’s current climbs notable.
How Malachi Toney’s season stacks up to DeVonta Smith’s 2020 pace
Miami has played seven games, and Toney’s production through that span mirrors or edges DeVonta Smith’s early 2020 numbers.
- Receptions: Toney 66 — DeVonta 65
- Receiving yards: Toney 952 — DeVonta 903
- Receiving TDs: Toney 11 — DeVonta 10
- Rush yards: Toney 50 — DeVonta 2
- Punt returns: Toney 6 — DeVonta 2
- Punt return yards: Toney 69 — DeVonta 50
Notably, DeVonta only began returning punts late in his 2020 season to increase his profile. Toney has contributed on returns from earlier on.
Jeremiah Smith’s numbers: a different path to Heisman contention
Jeremiah Smith has matched the same seven-game sample and taken a distinct route to national attention. He is not as involved on special teams.
- Receptions: Jeremiah Smith 52 — DeVonta 65
- Receiving yards: Jeremiah Smith 984 — DeVonta 903
- Receiving TDs: Jeremiah Smith 12 — DeVonta 10
- Rush yards: Jeremiah Smith 7 — DeVonta 2
- Punt returns: Jeremiah Smith 2 — DeVonta 2
- Punt return yards: Jeremiah Smith -6 — DeVonta 50
Smith’s high yardage and touchdown totals make him an offensive focal point, despite limited return work.
Revisiting DeVonta Smith’s Heisman-winning 2020 season
DeVonta Smith produced one of the most prolific receiving campaigns in recent memory as a senior.
- Games played: 13
- Receptions: 117
- Receiving yards: 1,856
- Receiving TDs: 23
- Yards per catch: 15.9
- Rush and return impact: 6 rush yards, 1 rush TD, 11 punt returns for 237 yards and a punt TD
He turned in championship-stage performances that cemented voter enthusiasm. In the SEC title game he posted a standout stat line. He then followed up with big performances in the College Football Playoff.
- CFP semifinal vs. Notre Dame: 7 receptions, 130 yards, 3 TDs
- National title vs. Ohio State: 12 receptions, 215 yards, 3 TDs
How the players are talking about their Heisman bids
Both receivers have addressed Heisman chatter, staying focused on performance rather than hype.
- Jeremiah Smith has said his goal is to prove he’s the nation’s top player and to let voters decide.
- Malachi Toney earns praise from teammates for his blocking and unselfish play. QB Darian Mensah highlighted Toney’s willingness to block and lift the offense.
Mensah has emerged as a notable name in betting markets, with odds that compare favorably to many candidates.
Current betting landscape: 2026 Heisman odds and favorites
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the following odds for the 2026 Heisman. These figures reflect market sentiment as the season progresses.
| Player | Position | School | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Smith | WR | Ohio State | +122 |
| Darian Mensah | QB | Miami | +270 |
| Malachi Toney | WR | Miami | +360 |
| CJ Carr | QB | Notre Dame | +2000 |
| Trinidad Chambliss | QB | Ole Miss | +2400 |
| Jesse Legree | WR | Oregon State | +3000 |
| Drew Mestemaker | QB | Oklahoma State | +4000 |
| Gunner Stockton | QB | Georgia | +5000 |
What to watch in the coming weeks for Heisman voters
Key factors will shape the race as the season winds down:
- Big-game performances on national stages.
- Whether wide receivers add special-teams value.
- Team records and playoff positioning.
- Consistency in highlight moments and film study for voters.
Watch for head-to-head matchups, conference title games, and postseason resumes. Those moments could swing voter sentiment in favor of a receiver or keep the trophy with a quarterback or running back.
