The race for college football's highest individual honor is heating up, and the 2026 Heisman Trophy picture is as wide open as ever. With three of last year's four finalists—including winner and No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick Fernando Mendoza—moving on to the pros, a new wave of stars is ready to seize the spotlight.

Leading the pack early on is Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, who sits as the modest favorite at +750 odds. Hot on his heels is Texas signal-caller Arch Manning at +800, a name that carries both legacy and rising star power. In total, nine players boast odds of +1900 or better, meaning there's plenty of room for a dark horse to emerge.

Using Brandon Marcello's post-spring top 25 rankings, we've identified the most likely Heisman candidate from each powerhouse program. Interestingly, this year's list is slightly less quarterback-heavy than usual, with only 15 signal-callers making the cut—but as last year proved with Indiana's surprise contender, anything can happen.

Texas: Arch Manning – This is the easiest pick on the board. Manning will be a betting favorite all summer after his strong finish to the 2025 campaign, and with national championship expectations in Austin, the spotlight will be bright.

Ohio State: Jeremiah Smith – Simply put, Smith is the best player in college football. Playing in one of the nation's most explosive offenses, he could see even more targets with Carnell Tate off to the NFL. That said, quarterback Julian Sayin—a Heisman finalist last year—will also draw plenty of buzz, making this a fascinating race within a race.

LSU: Garrett Nussmeier – Nussmeier likely would have been the No. 2 overall pick had he entered the draft last year. Instead, he returned to build on his sensational sophomore season, during which he completed nearly 72% of his passes. With stars like Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart back, he'll have one of the nation's best receiving corps at his disposal.

Georgia: Gunner Stockton – There may be more talented players on Georgia's roster, but Stockton has that intangible "it" factor. The senior threw for 24 touchdowns against just five interceptions during an SEC championship season, while also rushing for 462 yards and 10 scores. He has a Stetson Bennett-like quality to his playmaking that could make him a dark horse contender.

Notre Dame: CJ Carr – By the end of the 2025 season, Carr was absolutely rolling. Outside of a rare two-interception outing against Pitt, he threw eight touchdowns and zero picks down the stretch. If he carries that momentum into 2026, he'll be tough to beat.