Heisman Trophy Rankings: It's Time to Talk About Jeremiah Smith

Ohio State's star wide receiver is setting records and going for the triple crown. And Jeremiah Smith has his sights set on the Heisman.

by Kyle Wood

Oct 6, 2026

Ohio State's star wide receiver is setting records and going for the triple crown. And Jeremiah Smith has his sights set on the Heisman.

It’s rare for a wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy. Only five wide receivers have won the award in its almost 100-year history. But then again, Jeremiah Smith is a rare talent.

As the college football season nears its midway point, Smith is pulling away after a record-setting day for Ohio State. He’s the betting favorite at multiple sportsbooks with odds as good as -110 at FanDuel. The markets are catching up to what casual and diehard college football observers alike have known for some time now: Smith is the best player in college football.

He said as much after Saturday’s win against Iowa: “Just got to let the Heisman voters or whoever it is know that I’m the best player in the country. So I gotta be there.” Consider yourself heard, loud and clear.

There is still a lot of football to be played over the next two months, but it feels like the award is Smith’s to lose. If anyone can surpass him, it likely won’t be another position player. Quarterbacks Darian Mensah (Miami), Keelon Russell (Alabama), Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss) and Julian Sayin (Smith’s signal-caller at Ohio State) make up the next tier of contenders.

Here’s how Athlon sees the Heisman Trophy race heading into Week 6.

Heisman Trophy Watch: Ranking the Top Contenders After Week 5

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) scores a touchdown.

1. Jeremiah Smith — WR, Ohio State (Last Week: 3)

Week 5 Stats (31-14 W at No. 14 Iowa): 11 receptions, 206 yards, 2 TD
Season Stats: 44 receptions, 823 yards (18.7 YPR), 9 TD; 1 carry, 5 yards (5.0 YPC)

Smith was already Ohio State’s career leader in receiving yards (3,381), and he’s now the record holder in receptions (207) and receiving touchdowns (36) after another dominant outing. Considering all the great pass-catchers that have come through Columbus — six first-round wide receivers in the 2020s alone — Smith’s body of work is that much more impressive. The Heisman Trophy is not a career achievement award, though. So Smith is going out of his way to remind anyone and everyone that he’s the best player in the country.

Who can disagree after his second consecutive 200-yard game? Iowa had one of the stingiest secondaries in the country heading into Saturday’s top-25 clash. And the Hawkeyes had reason to be proud of their own improved passing game. Smith outdid them both, outclassing their defense at every turn and outgaining their passing offense all by himself.

Smith averages more receiving yards per game in the Buckeyes’ explosive offense than 16 teams. He also has more receiving touchdowns this season than 90 teams. There has been nothing fluky about it, either. Smith is making a case for the triple crown — he’s first in receptions and receiving yards and tied for first in receiving touchdowns — against top-tier competition.

To drive home the point that he’s taken his already elite play up a level this season, four of his five highest receiving outputs have occurred this season. Smith has seven games to go to keep building on his records. But after Saturday, we know that he’s explicitly chasing the Heisman. That’s a scary thought for his competition — and the rest of the teams on the No. 5 Buckeyes’ schedule.

2. Darian Mensah — QB, Miami (Last Week: 1)

Week 5 Stats (41-13 W at Clemson): 18-for-27, 227 yards, 1 TD; 3 carries, 27 yards, 1 TD
Season Stats: 112-for-133 (84.2%), 1,438 yards (10.8 YPA), 15 TD; 12 carries, 79 yards (6.6 YPC), 2 TD

Mensah had a ho-hum performance against the Tigers. The fact that a 200-yard, two-touchdown game in a road blowout of a conference opponent has become routine — expected even — goes to show just how good Mensah has been since he joined the Hurricanes.

Miami scored on its first play from scrimmage when Mensah tossed a screen to Cooper Barkate, who took it 61 yards to the house. And two drives later, Mensah took off up the middle and broke off a big run only to fumble on the goal line and recover it in the end zone for a touchdown. It was that kind of night for the ‘Canes.

Mensah was inaccurate by his high standards. He completed “only” two-thirds of his throws against Clemson, which brought his astronomical completion rate down to 84.2%. That still leads the FBS by a wide margin, and Mensah is also first in passer rating. Up next for No. 4 Miami is a bye week before it begins the toughest stretch of its season.

Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell (12) scores a touchdown against Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field on Oct. 3, 2026, in Starkville, Mississippi.

3. Keelon Russell — QB, Alabama (Last Week: NR)

Week 5 Stats (56-23 W at No. 16 Mississippi State): 16-for-22, 285 yards, 3 TD; 5 carries, 16 yards, 1 TD
Season Stats: 94-for-132 (71.2%), 1,414 yards (10.7 YPA), 11 TD, 2 INT; 37 carries, 184 yards (5.0 YPC), 4 TD

Russell and the Crimson Tide could do no wrong against the Bulldogs. They took advantage of two quick turnovers to get out to an early lead and never looked back in a shellacking that put the rest of the SEC and the country on notice. Russell outshined Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor, a rising Heisman candidate a week ago, and continued his run of mistake-free football.

Related: Alabama Looks Like SEC’s Team to Beat After Humbling Mississippi State

Alabama’s offense has been ridiculously efficient, and the obvious change has been Russell’s introduction under center. The Tide are the first team since 2019 Oklahoma to score 45-plus points in their first five games. They also set a new program record for points scored on the road against a ranked team. And their 56 points were also their most in a conference game since 2020.

Russell has strung together three consecutive games with three-plus passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown while completing at least 70% of his passes. He also hasn’t turned the ball over during that stretch. Russell has acquitted himself against quality competition. But up next is a different caliber of opponent when No. 2 Georgia visits Tuscaloosa. No. 6 Alabama has performed surprisingly well against the Bulldogs since Nick Saban retired. Can Russell keep the good vibes going?

4. Trinidad Chambliss — QB, Ole Miss (Last Week: 4)

Week 5 Stats: Idle
Season Stats: 102-for-144 (70.8%), 1,222 yards (8.5 YPA), 8 TD, 3 INT; 28 carries, 108 yards (3.9 YPC), 4 TD

Chambliss enjoyed a week off after the Rebels’ first loss of the season. And the time away could hardly have come at a better time. No. 9 Ole Miss was without star running back Kewan Lacy (shoulder) against Florida. His pending return to the lineup this week against Vanderbilt will take some pressure off Chambliss, who led the team in rushing against the Gators.

Due to the early bye week, Chambliss is well behind many of his counterparts in counting stats. But he’s top five in passing yards per game and top 20 in completion rate despite facing three top-25 teams in the first month of the season. His play in tight wins against Louisville and LSU and even in defeat against Florida was so singularly impressive that he’s still very much in the mix for the Heisman. After some time out of the spotlight, the Chambliss hype will ramp back up this week.

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (10) passes against Iowa at Kinnick Stadium on Oct. 3, 2026, in Iowa City, Iowa.

5. Julian Sayin — QB, Ohio State (Last Week: NR)

Week 5 Stats (31-14 W at No. 14 Iowa): 20-for-27, 324 yards, 3 TD; 9 carries, -1 yards
Season Stats: 103-for-143 (72.5%), 1,530 yards (10.8 YPA), 13 TD, 1 INT; 25 carries, 6 yards (0.2 YPC), 2 TDs

Sayin has been overlooked largely due to Smith’s exceptional season, but it’s about time he gets his flowers. The only 2025 Heisman finalist who returned to college played poorly against Texas a few weeks back. Since then, he has been lights out.

Even including his uncharacteristically inaccurate game against the Longhorns, Sayin ranks just outside the top 10 in completion percentage. And he’s not sacrificing big plays for efficiency, as he’s third nationally in yards per attempt. Yes, Smith accounts for more than half of Sayin’s passing yardage and passing touchdowns, but he should not be penalized for keying in on his top target.

Bouncing back on the road against Iowa was important for Sayin, who’s set to light up Maryland this weekend before a crucial stretch against No. 7 Indiana, No. 19 USC and No. 13 Oregon.