The Heisman Trophy still belongs mostly to quarterbacks, but every so often a non-QB breaks through and forces the sport to make room. Travis Hunter did it in 2024 as just the second cornerback ever to win the award, joining Charles Woodson. DeVonta Smith was the last true wide receiver to take it in 2020, and Derrick Henry remains the most recent running back to win, back in 2015.
That history is what makes this crop so interesting. A handful of players outside the quarterback spot have real Heisman paths if the season breaks right, and the names near the top all come with a different kind of juice.
Smith is back in the mix after finishing sixth in the Heisman voting in 2025. The Buckeyes have Julian Sayin back at quarterback, but they also lost Carnell Tate to the NFL, which opens the door for Smith to be the face of the offense. Ohio State reloads at receiver as well as anyone, and five-star prospect Chris Henry Jr. is part of that picture, but Smith is still the player everyone will be tracking whenever he’s on the field.
Toney enters the fall with serious momentum after a huge freshman season. Across 16 games, he piled up 109 catches, 1,211 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns.
He did that with Carson Beck at quarterback, and now he may have an even better one in Darian Mensah. With a very favorable ACC schedule on top of that, Toney has a real chance to push for Miami’s third Heisman winner.
At running back, Lacy and Hardy both have the kind of production that gets attention fast. Lacy was a monster for the Rebels in 2025, helping drive them to a College Football Playoff semifinal while rushing for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns in 15 games.
He topped 100 rushing yards in seven games and scored in every game except one. Playing alongside Trinidad Chambliss does complicate the Heisman case, but it also means defenses have to account for both players at once in the backfield.
Hardy was just as electric in his first year with the Tigers, earning All-American honors after rushing for 1,649 yards, 16 touchdowns and 6.4 yards per carry in 13 games. If Missouri is going to produce its first-ever Heisman winner, Hardy likely needs the Tigers to push into College Football Playoff contention and he may need to get near 2,000 rushing yards.
He opened the season with five straight 100-yard games and later dropped 300 yards and three touchdowns on Mississippi State in November, which tells you exactly how high the ceiling is. He may be a long shot, but he has the kind of game that can make the race interesting.
Simmons brings a different kind of threat entirely. The edge rusher was a wrecking ball in 2025 with 12 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in 13 games, and he already has 21 sacks across his first two seasons in Austin.
If Arch Manning doesn’t quite meet the towering expectations placed on him but Texas keeps winning, Simmons could be one of the biggest reasons why. He’ll also have plenty of chances to make noise against quarterbacks like Chambliss, Sayin, John Mateer and Marcel Reed in the SEC.
Only Aidan Hutchinson and Ndamukong Suh have been Heisman finalists as defensive linemen in the 21st century, and Simmons has the talent to join that group.
Moore gives Notre Dame another defensive name worth watching. He was a true lockdown corner in 2025, earning All-American honors with five interceptions, a pick-six and seven passes defended.
When targeted, he allowed a passer rating of just 45.9. That kind of shutdown play is exactly why NFL scouts view him as a top-five draft talent, and it also gives him a Heisman path if the Fighting Irish keep winning against a fairly soft schedule.
If he keeps turning coverage snaps into turnovers, he’ll have a real case.
In Other News...
Mario Cristobal Takes Miami's Game Night Frustration Straight To The ACC
Mario Cristobals latest gripe with the ACC has less to do with travel or television windows than with something deeply rooted in South Florida football culture. During an interview with ESPNs Rece Davis, the Miami coach made clear he would rather keep high school football on Friday nights, pushing back on the leagues recent habit of putting early-season Hurricanes games on Fridays and Thursdays.
For Cristobal, the issue is bigger than a scheduling inconvenience. Those weekday college games create a direct conflict with the high school matchups that help define Miami-Dade County, and they also keep the Hurricanes staff from getting out to see local prospects and community programs in person. His point was simple enough: he wants a balance that lets both levels of football matter, without college scheduling crowding out one of the regions most important nights. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Freshmen Face A Huge Second Scrimmage For Bigger Roles
Fall camp has given Miamis true freshmen a chance to make the kind of early impression that can speed up a depth chart, and a few of them have already put themselves in that conversation. Javian Mallory, Somourian Wingo, Ben Congdon, Jackson Cantwell and JJ Dunnigan have all flashed enough physical tools and promise to suggest the staff will keep finding ways to test them before the season starts, especially with roles open at several spots.
Wingos path is especially interesting because the receiver room has room for movement, while Congdon is still fighting to earn a place in the offensive line mix. Miami has seen freshmen before step in and matter right away, and this group has the same kind of chance if it keeps stacking strong days in camp and carries that momentum into the next scrimmage. [Read more 🡒]
Francis Mauigoa Is Giving Miami Fans Another Reason To Brag
Francis Mauigoa is already starting to look like the kind of pro Miami fans love to claim as one of their own. The former Hurricanes offensive lineman, taken 10th overall by the New York Giants in the 2026 NFL Draft, has made a smooth early transition from college tackle to left guard, and it has shown up in preseason work that has drawn attention for all the right reasons.
What stands out most is how quickly Mauigoa has earned respect on both sides of the line. His athleticism has been a talking point, and Giants defensive tackle DJ Reader has singled out the rookies energy and the way he has affected the team, a strong early sign that Miami may have sent New York a player ready to make noise right away. [Read more 🡒]