College football is rolling into a weekend that has just about everything: top-10 showdowns, ranked battles, regional heat, Heisman pressure, and even another game with the Commander-in-Chief trophy on the line. For the hobby, it’s the kind of slate that can move markets fast.
At the center of it all is Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who remains the heavy favorite in the Heisman race heading into Week 10. Even without quarterback Julian Sayin, Smith still put on a show in a loss to USC, hauling in 10 catches while staying under 100 yards. Another big performance this weekend would matter in two places at once: the Heisman chase and the card market.
Smith’s values have not really been dropping, but the situation around him matters. This fall, he’s only available in Leaf and ONIT products, and Ohio State cannot really afford another loss. The Buckeyes are already on the outside looking in, and while a second defeat would not end their College Football Playoff hopes, three losses would make the climb extremely steep.
Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey is a much longer shot for the Heisman, but a win over Tennessee could at least push him into the New York conversation. The hobby angle is smaller here, though Minchey has already seen a boost as Kentucky has climbed in the polls.
Last week, his Bowman Chrome Crystalized Superfractor sold for $2,850, a strong number for a Tier 2 SSP from Bowman. Kentucky would all but lock up a playoff spot with a win, while a Tennessee loss would almost certainly end the Volunteers’ hopes.
There’s also plenty of intrigue in LSU against Alabama, where LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt is sitting in the top five of the Heisman race and Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell is in the top 10. The biggest storyline on the field may actually be the return of Alabama wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, though that may not be the biggest hobby angle.
Leavitt still has a real path to New York, and a win over Alabama would keep him squarely in the mix. His market has been as volatile as his play - big highs, then even lower lows.
Russell, meanwhile, has cards in the 2026 Panini Donruss set, including a Downtown, though the unlicensed issue makes that card a tougher sell. LSU needs the win to stay alive in the playoff race, while Alabama can probably survive another loss given its surprisingly strong standing in the first rankings.
Another game with major Heisman weight features two finalists inside the top six: Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, currently fourth, and Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton, sitting sixth. The hobby wrinkle here is simple and not ideal for Chambliss - his cards are only unlicensed. He does have cards in Panini Obsidian and Donruss, but that limits the ceiling.
Still, Chambliss has become one of the more interesting quarterback prospects because his play is improving his draft stock while other names such as Arch Manning and Dante Moore have slipped, with Moore’s injury part of that drop. Stockton has a broader card footprint, with products in 2025 Bowman Chrome Football, 2025 Bowman’s Best, and 2026 Panini releases.
His strongest cards come from his Bowman 1st’s, with Bowman’s Best right behind. Both teams can technically survive a loss, but Ole Miss probably needs a win to keep its playoff hopes - and Chambliss’ faint Heisman case - alive.
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier is leading the No. 3 Utes, but he still sits just outside the top 10 in Heisman odds.
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier is an even longer shot. Even so, Bachmeier has been one of the top chases in the 2026 Bowman Football set on the prospect side.
Dampier, meanwhile, was one of the underrated chases in 2025 Bowman Chrome Football. Both teams can likely absorb a loss here, with BYU able to lean on the absence of LJ Martin and its win over Notre Dame, while undefeated Utah has some breathing room of its own.
Then there’s Miami quarterback Darian Mensah and Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, two names sitting much closer to the top of the Heisman race than most of the field. Mensah is right there with Jeremiah Smith among the favorites, while Carr is closer to Mensah in second than Chambliss is to fourth.
From a hobby standpoint, both have already made noise in 2026 Bowman Football. Carr was the second-biggest chase in the set behind Arch Manning, while Mensah was a major chase himself.
Mensah’s top sale is his Red GPK /5, which brought $3,800 and stands as the second-biggest sale of his career, behind only his 2025 Bowman Chrome U Superfractor Auto at $3,900. Carr has topped that number seven times over, with his best sale coming from a Red Anime SSP /5 in 2026 Bowman Football that sold for $6,500.
The playoff stakes are clear here too. Notre Dame is sitting 11th in the CFB Playoff Rankings and needs a win to stay alive.
A loss would put the Irish in serious trouble. Miami, on the other hand, should be fine for the playoff even if it slips up.
Without WR Malachi Toney, the Hurricanes have a tougher road in this one, but Mensah has been excellent all season.
In Other News...
Ohio State Faces A Familiar Threat In A High-Stakes Rematch
Dylan Raiola has become a familiar name around Ohio State for reasons that go beyond recruiting lore. The quarterback once committed to the Buckeyes before his path took him through multiple programs, and now he is set to line up for Oregon in a matchup that carries plenty of extra weight for both sides. His history has been uneven, but the profile remains clear: when he is comfortable, he can make an offense look dangerous in a hurry.
For Ohio State, the challenge is less about the backstory than the stress points Raiola can create if the Buckeyes let him settle in. The defense will need to account for Oregons offense while also finding ways to speed Raiola up, because his play tends to change when pressure starts closing in. It is the kind of rematch that forces a staff to revisit old evaluations and a defense to prove it can turn familiarity into an advantage. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has Every Right To Be Furious With These CFP Rankings
The first College Football Playoff rankings brought plenty of debate, and Ohio State had reason to feel singled out by the opening order. Greg McElroy took aim at the committees placement of Indiana eight spots ahead of the Buckeyes, especially with Ohio State owning the head-to-head win between the two teams and carrying a schedule that has already tested it more than most.
McElroy also pointed to Ohio States narrow loss to Texas as the kind of result that should have kept the Buckeyes higher in the mix, while noting that quarterback injuries may have played into the committees thinking. Even so, he suggested the rankings are far from final and could shift as the next round of games gives the committee more to weigh. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Offense Has No Room For Another Letdown Vs Oregon
With No. 23 Oregon coming to Columbus in a critical Week 10 matchup, Ohio State is staring at an offense that has to look sharper in the biggest moments. The Buckeyes have spent enough time this season flashing the pieces of a dangerous unit, but the conversation now is about execution, especially when drives get tight and the margin for error shrinks.
The priorities are clear: finish red-zone trips with touchdowns, stay on the field on third down and find a running game that can keep the offense balanced. Oregons defense has shown tendencies that should give Ohio State chances if it can sustain drives, but the Buckeyes cannot afford another uneven showing in a game with this much weight attached to it. [Read more 🡒]