If you had to bet on one player to win the 2026 Heisman Trophy, you’d be best off choosing a quarterback.
Texas‘ Arch Manning, Ohio State‘s Julian Sayin, LSU‘s Sam Leavitt, Oregon‘s Dante Moore and others are the clear frontrunners for the most prestigious individual award in college football heading into the fall.
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The Heisman Trophy has been mostly dominated by quarterbacks for several decades now. While historically, running backs have won the most Heisman Trophy awards, it’s the QB position that has taken it home the most as of late. Of the last 10 Heisman Trophy winners, eight have been quarterbacks.
NEW YORK CITY, NY – DECEMBER 10: 2016 Heisman Trophy winner University of Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson (4) with his mother Felicia Jones after winning the 81st Annual Heisman Trophy press conference on December 10, 2016, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
ESPN college football expert Heather Dinich is fed up with this, though.
The ESPN college football insider issued a public plea to Heisman Trophy voters heading into the 2026 season: It’s not a quarterback award!
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Dinich issues public plea to Heisman Trophy voters
The ESPN college football expert issued a public plea to the Heisman Trophy voters on Thursday.
Dinich believes that Jeremiah Smith, not Julian Sayin, should be the frontrunner.
“No, Jeremiah Smith is (the better player),” Dinich said. “I’m looking at you Heisman voters. (It’s) NOT a quarterback award. Jeremiah Smith said that yesterday. When you look at what he’s done and you combine his physical attributes and his athleticism with the fact that as a freshman and a sophomore, over 1,000 yards each year.
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“He’s on pace, if he has another pace with over 1,200 receiving yards, to shatter every Ohio State receiving record. Ryan Day said this yesterday… he has a chance to leave a legacy at that school with two national titles. And, they can do it.”
Smith might be the country’s most talented player, but the Heisman Trophy has proven to show major bias toward quarterbacks.
If someone is going to win it from Ohio State, it’ll probably be Sayin.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Jul 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
