Heisman Trophy Rankings: Jeremiah Smith Extends His Lead

There has been no change to the top of the Heisman Trophy race. For the first month of the season, there was plenty of movement. Sample sizes were small, so overreactions were rampant. But as we approach the midpoint of the season, a definitive favorite has emerged. His name is Jeremiah Smith.

Ohio State’s all-world receiver is the odds-on favorite to win the award at multiple sportsbooks, quite the feat with so much football still to be played. But then again, who other than Smith would you pick to win the Heisman at the moment?

Smith is holding strong as the only position player truly in consideration for college football’s top individual honor. The rest of the candidates are predictably quarterbacks. Miami’s Darian Mensah and Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss have been in the mix all season long. And this week, two new signal-callers join the conversation as well.

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

Heisman Trophy Watch: Ranking the Top Contenders After Week 6

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

Week 6 Stats (45-16 W vs. Maryland): 4 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TD
Season Stats: 48 receptions, 916 yards (19.1 YPR), 11 TD; 1 carry, 5 yards (5.0 YPC)

Smith is a touchdown-scoring machine. Saturday’s showing against Maryland was his fourth multi-score game of the season, which matches how many times he did that in 13 games in 2025. It says a lot that two trips to the end zone and almost 100 yards was Smith’s second-worst performance this season. That’s just how good he’s been.

Smith ranks second across the board in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. He and Oregon State star freshman Jesse Legree are going blow for blow in the fight for the triple crown. What Smith and the No. 4 Buckeyes have working in their favor, though, is strength of schedule. What he did against Texas, albeit in a loss, and on the road against Iowa’s stout defense is special. That’s why bettors have to lay money if they want to wager on him to join a rare club of wide receivers to win the Heisman — even though it’s still October. Saturday’s trip to play No. 6 Indiana, which beat Ohio State in the Big Ten title game in December, is another opportunity to add to his highlight reel against top-tier competition.

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

Week 6 Stats: Idle
Season Stats: 112-for-133 (84.2%), 1,438 yards (10.8 YPA), 15 TD; 12 carries, 79 yards (6.6 YPC), 2 TD

There’s not much to say about Mensah and the Hurricanes at the moment. They’ve done everything that’s been asked of them up to this point. No. 3 Miami is undefeated and beating teams so badly that Mensah has routinely left games early, ceding snaps to his backup and even third-string quarterback.

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The time will come for the Hurricanes to acquit themselves against some worthy ACC opponents. And, of course, there’s their highly anticipated trip to face No. 2 Notre Dame. But this weekend’s forecast projects another blowout against rival Florida State. The Seminoles have not won a road game since 2023, and Miami is outscoring opponents 130-10 at Hard Rock Stadium so far this season.

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

Week 6 Stats (52-17 W at Vanderbilt): 20-for-30, 213 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT; 4 carries, 5 yards, 1 TD
Season Stats: 122-for-174 (70.1%), 1,435 yards (8.2 YPA), 11 TD, 4 INT; 32 carries, 113 yards (3.5 YPC)

It would have been silly to cast Chambliss aside after the loss to Florida, which is looking more and more like one of the more confusing results of the season. A bad loss and a bye week had him back to where he’s most comfortable: Underrated and overlooked. Well, after embarrassing Vanderbilt last week, Chambliss is back in the limelight.

His four total touchdowns were his most since the season-opener against Louisville. And Chambliss was surely happy to have his backfield partner Kewan Lacy back in the lineup. Up next is a big narrative game against No. 13 Missouri. The Tigers are led by Austin Simmons, whose job Chambliss took last season when he was still at Ole Miss. Even if neither of them lets on that this game means anything more, plenty of conclusions about the Tigers and Rebels will be drawn from this game. For what it’s worth, Chambliss has never lost a start at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

4. Gunner Stockton — QB, Georgia (Last Week: NR)

Week 6 Stats (20-17 W at No. 6 Alabama): 18-for-22, 249 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 6 carries, 12 yards, 1 TD
Season Stats: 95-for-124 (76.6%), 1,298 yards (10.5 YPA), 14 TD, 2 INT; 26 carries, 134 yards (5.2 YPC), 1 TD

Stockton’s first rushing touchdown of the season could not have come at a better time. Trailing Alabama on the road, he turned the tide of the game by barreling into the end zone on the first drive of the second half to regain the lead. The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs traded field goals the rest of the way, and Georgia left Bryant-Denny Stadium with its first win since 2007 and returned to the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25.

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Stockton was extremely efficient, as he has been all season long and for much of his time as the Bulldogs’ starter. He rarely makes mistakes, but now he’s incorporated consistent chunk plays into his repertoire. Stockton is one of nine quarterbacks averaging better than 10 yards per attempt, a far cry from his pedestrian average of 7.5 a season ago. Because of how good Georgia is at every level, Stockton often does not get his fair credit, but he’s a huge part of the Bulldogs’ success as they head into a stretch with games against back-to-back rivals: Auburn and Florida.

5. CJ Carr — QB, Notre Dame (Last Week: NR)

Week 6 Stats (58-7 W vs. Stanford): 14-for-20, 181 yards, 3 TD, 5 carries, 41 yards
Season Stats: 102-for-144 (70.8%), 1,378 yards (9.6 YPA), 16 TD, 1 INT; 17 carries, 69 yards (4.1 YPC), 3 TD

Carr is in a very similar situation to Mensah. Because of how dominant the Fighting Irish have been, there are questions about their quality of competition. But looking back, Wisconsin is 4-1, Purdue (yes, Purdue) is 3-3 and the North Carolina team Notre Dame struggled against is 3-2 after a win over a top-25 Pitt team. This is not some murderer’s row of opponents, but the Irish’s own excellence has made it look easier than it has actually been. And Carr is at the heart of that.

Carr has taken big strides as a passer. His 16-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio is bested only by Indiana’s Josh Hoover, who has yet to throw a pick. And Carr is contributing as a runner, too. Questions about No. 2 Notre Dame’s schedule should be put to bed this week when they play at No. 8 BYU. And if the Irish are to win on the road against such a stout defense, Carr will have to be at his best.

Don’t Forget About

• Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State
• Keelon Russell, QB, Alabama
• Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana
• Kamario Taylor, QB, Mississippi State

Sleepers to Watch

• Jayden Maiava, QB, USC
• Austin Simmons, QB, Missouri
• Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
• Devon Dampier, QB, Utah