- Tickets MARCA. Get the best NFL seats in Tickets MARCA
- NCAA. Texas adds veteran QB depth behind Arch Manning ahead of 2026 season
- NCAA. Curt Cignetti said "Google me" - now Indiana's national title proves he was right
College football is still cooling off from one of its most surprising seasons in recent memory. Fernando Mendoza didn't just win the Heisman Trophy in 2025. He rewrote expectations. A first-year transfer at Indiana, Mendoza capped his rise with a perfect season and a national title, becoming the first quarterback since Joe Burrow to pair a Heisman with a championship run.
That kind of season naturally shifts the conversation. The award is no longer just about preseason hype or five-star pedigrees. It's about timing, opportunity, and fit. Tthe transfer portal continues to reshape Heisman voting, with recent winners like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Mendoza all starting their careers elsewhere.
So as the calendar flips toward 2026, the question is simple: does another unexpected name rise, or do familiar contenders finally cash in?
The early Heisman field is already taking shape
One of the most intriguing cases belongs to Trinidad Chambliss at Ole Miss Rebels. If granted a final season of eligibility, Chambliss brings playoff credibility and dual-threat production after leading Ole Miss to wins over Tulane and Georgia. With a full season as the starter, his numbers could climb quickly.
At Texas Longhorns, Arch Manning enters a defining year. His late-season surge in 2025, highlighted by a dominant Citrus Bowl performance, reminded everyone why expectations followed him from day one. With upgraded weapons around him, the spotlight will only grow brighter.
Ohio State could field two legitimate candidates. Quarterback Julian Sayin returns after finishing fourth in Heisman voting, while wide receiver Jeremiah Smith remains one of the most productive players in the country. Few quarterback-receiver pairings enter 2026 with more momentum.
Miami's offense will again revolve around Malachi Toney, who led the nation in receptions as a true freshman. Indiana reloads with veteran transfer Josh Hoover, while Dante Moore returns to Oregon Ducks hoping to clean up mistakes and turn raw talent into consistency.
It's early. Very early. But if recent history has taught college football anything, it's that the next Heisman winner rarely follows a predictable script.