The 2026 Heisman Trophy odds were refreshed on Oct. 24, and the top of the board has a familiar look: an Ohio State receiver leading the chase. Jeremiah Smith sits at +115 with FanDuel Sportsbook, the shortest price among the contenders as the race enters its stretch run.
Smith’s case rests on a combination of season production and career milestones. Through the Buckeyes’ first eight games, he has 984 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. His most explosive outing came earlier this season against Illinois, when he found the end zone four times.
In Ohio State’s most recent game, a win over Indiana, Smith was quieter but still effective: four catches, 68 yards and one score. The Buckeyes were on a bye in Week 8, giving him a chance to rest before the final push.
Records Pile Up for Smith
The numbers that may resonate most with Heisman voters are the ones that place Smith atop Ohio State’s record book. He has 214 career catches and 3,542 career receiving yards, both school records. His 39 career receiving touchdowns tied Braylon Edwards for the Big Ten record.
Smith has also struck the Heisman pose multiple times this season, a visible sign that the campaign around him is building. No wide receiver has won the award since DeVonta Smith, and the Buckeyes’ star is making a strong case to end that drought.
Miami Teammates Sit Second and Third
If Smith is the clear favorite, the next two names on the board come from the same locker room. Darian Mensah is second at +320, and Malachi Toney is third at +350 following Miami’s 52-23 win over Pitt on Saturday.
Mensah threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns in that game. He leads the nation with an 80.8% completion rate and tops the ACC with 18 passing touchdowns. He is also one of three FBS quarterbacks with at least 16 passing touchdowns and no more than one interception.
Toney’s performance against Pitt was even more prolific from a volume standpoint: 16 catches for 194 yards and three touchdowns. He leads the ACC with 66 receptions and 11 receiving scores. The Miami duo’s odds reflect a team that has been impressive, though the Hurricanes had a scare against Florida State the previous week.
Carr’s First Loss Costs Him Ground
CJ Carr of Notre Dame is fourth at +1300, a price that likely reflects the Fighting Irish’s 28-24 loss to BYU on Saturday. Carr completed 27 of 49 passes for 261 yards with no touchdowns in the defeat.
Despite that outing, his season numbers remain strong: 16 passing touchdowns against just one interception. The loss may have damaged his Heisman momentum more than his statistics.
Legree’s Freshman Breakout
Jesse Legree of Oregon State is fifth at +2200, and his statistical profile is hard to ignore. The true freshman leads the nation with 1,040 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. His 46 catches are the most in the Pac-12.
Legree has outperformed both Smith and Toney on a per-game basis in several categories, and Oregon State sits at 5-2. His odds suggest voters may be hesitant to reward a freshman on a team outside the national spotlight, but the production is there.
Chambliss Slips After Rough Outing
Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss rounds out the top six at +3000. His odds fell after a three-interception performance in a loss to Texas on Saturday.
Chambliss has shown flashes, including a 298-yard, three-touchdown effort against Florida and a three-passing-touchdown, one-rushing-touchdown game against Missouri. Earlier this season, in Week 3, he beat former coach Lane Kiffin and LSU. But the Texas game highlighted the volatility that has kept him behind the leaders.
The 2025 Heisman winner, Fernando Mendoza, has moved on to the NFL after being drafted No. 1 overall, leaving the race open. Mendoza led Indiana to a 16-0 season and a national championship a year ago. With no incumbent in the field, the 2026 race remains fluid, but Smith’s combination of records and production has made him the one to catch.
