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...
Former Texas Receiver Is Already Adding Fuel To Red River Tension
Texas spent the offseason reshaping its wide receiver room, bringing in Cam Coleman, Sterling Berkhalter and Jermaine Bishop Jr. after losing Parker Livingstone and DeAndre Moore Jr. to the transfer portal. The turnover has only added another layer to the buildup around the Red River Rivalry, a game that already carries plenty of emotion and even more when familiar faces end up on opposite sidelines.
Livingstones move to Oklahoma has given this matchup an extra edge, especially after his name surfaced in the kind of back-and-forth that tends to follow players who switch sides in a border rivalry. With Texas and Oklahoma meeting again in a setting where roster changes and personal familiarity matter, the conversation around Octobers showdown is starting to feel less like preseason noise and more like part of the game itself. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Is Getting Serious National Respect Before Its SEC Test
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What stands out just as much is what was left off the list. Arch Manning was not named to ESPNs first or second team, even after the kind of statistical season that put him among the more closely watched players in the sport. For Texas, that creates an interesting backdrop heading into SEC play, where the Longhorns are being recognized for their depth and star power, but still have a quarterback whose national placement remains a talking point. [Read more 🡒]
Adonai Mitchell Is Finally Giving Texas Fans A Reason To Smile
Adonai Mitchells first few seasons in the NFL did not exactly match the promise that came with his second-round billing in the 2024 draft, but the former Texas wideout is at least giving Longhorns fans something to track again. After beginning his pro career with the Colts and then moving on to the Jets last year, Mitchell posted his best season so far and has worked his way into a spot where he matters in New Yorks passing game.
Now projected as the Jets No. 2 receiver behind Garrett Wilson, Mitchell is also entering a contract year, which only adds to the pressure and the opportunity in front of him. Reports around the team point to growing chemistry with quarterback Geno Smith, and for Texas supporters who have been waiting for his game to catch up to his talent, this feels like the kind of stretch that could finally change the conversation. [Read more 🡒]