Surprising New Favorite Emerges for 2026 Heisman Trophy
Oddsmakers are already deciding who the Heisman Trophy contenders are, and there's a QB not named Arch Manning at the top.
The 2026 Heisman Trophy race has seen an unexpected shift in the favorites. Once overwhelmingly favored, Texas quarterback Arch Manning is now trailed by Ohio State's Julian Sayin, Notre Dame's C.J. Carr, and Oregon's Dante Moore. According to data from Polymarket, Sayin is now the frontrunner with a 14% chance of winning, followed by Manning at 12%, Carr at 12%, and Moore at 8%.
Sayin, in his rookie season, had an impressive year, completing 77% of his passes for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while guiding the Buckeyes to a 12-2 record and a spot in the College Football Playoff. However, Manning's early Heisman hype waned after Texas' slow start. Moore, projected as the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, decided to return for his junior year at Oregon, while Carr's numbers might not seem as impressive, but analysts are expecting a breakout season from him in 2026.
All four signal-callers are projected to be first-round picks in the 2027 NFL draft, with Manning and Moore expected to be drafted in the top 10, and Carr and Sayin potentially being taken in the top 20.
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