The Heisman conversation always starts with the headliners, and for 2026 that group already feels crowded. Dante Moore, Julian Sayin, Arch Manning, Jeremiah Smith and CJ Carr are the names that jump out first. But the award has a way of finding a few surprise challengers once the season gets rolling, especially if their teams win and their numbers keep climbing.
Will Hammond is one of those names. He was not supposed to be Texas Tech’s starter this season, but after the debacle with Brendan Sorsby, he is now in position to take over.
The Red Raiders have an offense built to stress defenses every week, and they produce no matter who is lining up at quarterback. Hammond’s sample size is small, but he already flashed in mop-up duty in 2025, throwing for 680 yards and seven touchdowns.
Texas Tech is expected to throw it around, and after reaching the College Football Playoff a season ago, the Red Raiders will be under a bright light again as Big 12 contenders. If they stay in that mix, Hammond could pile up the kind of passing numbers that push him into the Heisman race.
Jordan Marshall fits a different path. The Heisman has not belonged to a running back since Derrick Henry won it for Alabama in 2015, but Michigan still has room for a ground-game star to break through.
Bryce Underwood will draw plenty of attention in Ann Arbor, yet the Wolverines are still going to lean on running the football. New offensive coordinator Jason Beck brings a strong track record, with his offenses finishing No. 2 in the nation in the past two seasons.
Marshall started last season as a backup, finished it hurt, and still came close to 1,000 rushing yards. If Michigan wins 10 or more games, Marshall could turn that into a career year and a trip to New York.
Cam Coleman is another player with a real runway. After two average seasons at Auburn, the 6-foot-3 receiver moved to Texas, where he joins Ryan Wingo and catches passes from Arch Manning, a Heisman contender himself.
Coleman has already totaled more than 1,300 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns over his two years at Auburn, so the production is there. Texas ranked 44th nationally in passing last season, and Manning was not always sharp.
But heading into 2026, Manning has a full season behind him and the passing game should be better. That gives Coleman a chance to break out in a major way.
Kevin Jennings has already shown he can put up numbers. SMU reached the College Football Playoff two seasons ago and stayed competitive this past season, and Jennings topped 3,200 passing yards in both years.
He is already part of the ACC quarterback conversation, and SMU has enough in front of it to make noise again. The Mustangs may not carry the national brand of Miami, Clemson or Florida State, but they are capable of knocking those teams off their perch.
If that happens, Jennings will have to keep developing, especially by cutting down on interceptions. Entering his third season as the starter, he has a path to New York if the production stays high and the mistakes come down.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Already Has A Fall Camp Concern Fans Will Feel Fast
Early in fall camp, the Sooners are already dealing with the kind of injury run that can complicate an entire preseason. Multiple players have been limited or kept out of practice as Oklahoma tries to build toward the season opener, and the absences have touched several spots on the roster, from the offensive line to running backs and even defensive backs.
The most immediate concern comes up front, where the team is trying to sort out depth and get everyone ready for live action. When injuries start piling up this early, every missed rep matters, and Oklahoma will be watching closely to see how quickly it can get its roster closer to full strength before the opener arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Freshman Is Turning An Early Camp Concern Into Opportunity
Fall camp has given Oklahoma an early look at Noah Best, and the freshman offensive lineman has taken advantage of the opportunity. With the Sooners working through a few minor bumps up front, Best has been able to get reps with the starting group at right guard, giving the coaching staff a closer look at a young player who is already making himself part of the conversation.
The timing matters because depth on the offensive line is always one of the first things tested in August, and Oklahoma would rather sort out those questions now than later. The expectation is that the full starting unit will be healthy for the opener against UTEP, but Bests emergence has already turned a camp concern into a useful development for a line that can never have too many reliable options. [Read more 🡒]
EMarion Harris Just Offered A Telling Oklahoma Reality Check
EMarion Harris didnt take long to notice the difference after transferring from Arkansas to Oklahoma for his fifth season. The veteran lineman, who started 24 games with the Razorbacks, has settled into a new room and a new standard, and hes been quick to praise the daily effort around the Sooners as well as the talent he sees across the line of scrimmage in practice.
Harris is expected to step in at right tackle, which makes his adjustment especially important for Oklahoma as it reshapes its offensive front. For a player looking to sharpen his game in his final college stop, the appeal is obvious: a more demanding competitive environment, a higher level of resistance every day and teammates who seem to have matched the urgency he was looking for. [Read more 🡒]