​It’s one of the most interesting Heisman races in a long, long time.Lots of future NFL quarterbacks for national championship-caliber teams, an all-time great wide receiver, and a few hopefuls who might just rise and surprise.They’re our preseason Heisman favorites, and here’s our preseason prediction for how the race for the greatest trophy honoring an individual in sports will go.2026 Heisman Trophy Watch: Preseason Top 12 Predictions26 for 202626: Winningest Programs Yet To Make the CFP25: ACC Key Questions24: Big 12 Key Questions23: Big Ten Key Questions22: Top 2027 NFL Draft Prospects21: SEC Key Questions20: What’s Next in Realignment?19. Ranking all 30 New Head Coaches18. Who Has the Easiest Schedules?17. Who Has the Hardest Schedules?16. Who Might Be the Next Indiana?15. Group of Six Teams with Best CFP Shot14. 5 Teams Due For a Letdown13. 5 Programs Under the Most Pressure12. 26 Bold Predictions11. 5 Teams We’re Disrespecting10. 5 Hottest Head Coaching Prospects9. Biggest Games of the Season8. Coaches On Hot Seat7. Teams About to Surprise6. 10 New Superstars5. Top Quarterback Battles4. Top 26 Transfers12. The FieldWhy Anyone But the 11 on this List Will Win the Heisman
The Heisman race always produces players who come from out of nowhere.

Fernando Mendoza and Diego Pavia weren’t on anyone’s list going into last year. No one had Ashton Jeanty in the 2024 mix, and Travis Hunter was a crazy call. Jayden Daniels in 2023? A flier at very best. Max Duggan as the runner-up to Caleb Williams in 2022, Aidan Hutchinson and Kenny Pickett behind Bryce Young in 2021, and … you get the idea.Why the Field Won’t Win the HeismanIn an NIL and transfer portal era, the stars end up with the biggest programs. It’ll take something outside of the norm – like Daniels and Hunter – to raise enough interest to be in the Heisman race.Projected Heisman FinishTop three, but who will it be? New LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt? If he’s healthy enough. The starting Alabama quarterback – the race is still on. USC QB Jayden Maiava? Yeah, he should probably be in the top ten. Miami WR Malachi Toney? He doesn’t play corner like Hunter did. That’s the fun of the Heisman race – the stars of the season have yet to show themselves.11. Gunner Stockton, QB, GeorgiaWhy He Will Win the HeismanHe’ll be the star quarterback for another great Georgia team that will be in the SEC and National Championship hunt all season long.Why He Won’t Win the HeismanThe stats won’t be there – Georgia won’t have the passing game. He’ll have some big moments in big games, which might be enough to get him in the top ten, but it won’t be enough to hold the Trophy.Projected Heisman FinishJust outside of the top ten – he finished seventh last season. Georgia will be great, but there will be far more good candidates than last year.– Georgia 2026 Team Preview10. Bryce Underwood, QB, MichiganWhy He Will Win the HeismanHe will have l