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Heisman Watch: Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney are not ready to hand Jeremiah Smith the trophy

The Hurricanes duo is making a charge for the top individual award in college football
ByCorey Long
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Oct 24, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (1) celebrates with quarterback Darian Mensah (10) after scoring a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Oct 24, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (1) celebrates with quarterback Darian Mensah (10) after scoring a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

About three weeks ago, I basically handed the Heisman Trophy to Jeremiah Smith, and for good reason. Smith was just wrecking defenses for a few weeks and put a lot of separation between him and the pack.

But with question marks about how effective Smith will be with Ohio State's backup QB platoon of Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair in the lineup for the injured Julian Sayin, things are opening up. If Smith can't get the ball with consistency, it could make some voters decide to go in a different direction.

And that's where the Miami Hurricanes connection of Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney steps in. Toney has been off the charts in the past two weeks and rightfully jumped up the odds, sitting as the third-favorite at +370 according to FanDuel. Smith is still the favorite (+120) and Mensah is still heavily in the picture at +290.

Those three players are far ahead of the pack. How far ahead you ask? Let's see:

The top Heisman contenders according to FanDuel

Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith (+120)
Miami QB Darian Mensah (+290)
Miami WR Malachi Toney (+370)
Notre Dame QB CJ Carr (+1900)
Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss (+3000)
Oregon State WR Jesse Legree (+3000)
Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker (+4000)
Georgia QB Gunner Stockton (+5000)
LSU QB Sam Leavitt. (+5000)
Wake Forest QB Gio Lopez (+6500)

The numbers tell us that not only is this a three-man race, but Smith, Mensah and Toney might be the only three invitees. Vegas is trying to keep Carr's name alive but the Notre Dame quarterback has mostly put up numbers that are consistent with a game manager. And Carr was completely unimpressive against BYU. 

Now the intriguing name on this list is Legree. His odds dropped a little in a week when Oregon State did not play, but if he continues to post these video game numbers in the Beavers passing game, then I can see a path where he gets an invitation to New York as a fourth finalist. Mestermaker is another player that could put up some massive numbers down the stretch, and he has a marquee game left against Texas Tech in mid-November.

But as long as the top three continue doing what they are doing, they will be the only players to get to the finish line in New York. Miami recently dropped a Heisman campaign that will spotlight both players. 

And for anyone worried about splitting votes, I can point out many instances where teammates were Heisman finalists and one walked away with the award. In 2020, Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith won the Heisman and his quarterback, Mac Jones, finished third, and in 2005 it was Reggie Bush winning the award with Matt Leinart (the 2004 Heisman winner) finishing third. 

There have been many instances when teammates finished in the top 5 of the voting and someone else won, but in those cases the best player still won. So if Mensah or Toney is determined to be the best player, they will take the trophy. More times than not, the voters get it right.

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