Each week this college football season, For The Win will take a look at the 2026 Heisman Trophy race and break down the contenders. Check back every Tuesday as the best college football players in the country jockey for position with both oddsmakers and bettors. All odds via BetMGM.
Preseason Heisman odds are fun and all, but none of it matters until a ball is kicked and the games are played. Week 1 is now in the rearview, and as we turn our attention to the second week of the college football season, we've seen some shakeup in the Heisman race.
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr entered the season as the favorite. Though his odds remain strong, he has been overtaken in first place after several eye-popping performances this weekend.
Entering Week
2, here's how things stand in the Heisman odds.
T12. John Mateer, Keelon Russell (+3000)
Odds Last Week
- Mateer +2500
- Russell +2500
We start with a pair of SEC quarterbacks whose odds dipped slightly this week, though it wasn't exactly related to their play. Mateer threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns in a win over UTEP, though he didn't do much on the ground. Russell, meanwhile, totaled 256 yards through the air and 86 on the ground in his first start at Alabama, but he only found the end zone once.
11. Josh Hoover (+2500)
Odds Last Week
- Hoover +1600
Indiana rolled over North Texas in its season-opener, and Hoover was nearly flawless in his debut. He completed 13 of 16 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns, but his odds dipped slightly despite the highly efficient performance.
10. Jayden Maiava (+2000)
Odds Last Week
- Maiava +2500
Maiava was fantastic in Week 0 for the Trojans, and he was even better in a shutout win over Fresno State on Friday. He completed 23 of 25 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns, and he's moving up in the odds this week as a result.
9. Sam Leavitt (+1700)
Odds Last Week
- Leavitt +2500
Leavitt threw for 230 yards with a pick and a touchdown in LSU's blowout win over Clemson, but he really shined with his legs, running for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
T7: Dante Moore, Julian Sayin (+1500)
Odds Last Week
- Moore +1100
- Sayin +1400
Both these Big Ten quarterbacks took a minor step back in the Heisman race this week despite strong debuts. Moore threw for 378 yards and three touchdowns in what was ultimately a tight win over Boise State, while Sayin threw for 320 and three touchdowns in a dominant victory over Ball State.
6. Malachi Toney (+1400)
Odds Last Week
- Toney +4000
Toney picked up right where he left off in 2025, catching 12 passes for 234 yards (!) and three touchdowns in a 45-6 road win over Stanford on Friday night. If he's going to be targeted at this clip, he'll be a mainstay on this list all season.
5. Trinidad Chambliss (+1300)
Odds Last Week
- Chambliss +1600
Chambliss and the Ole Miss offense had a slow start against Louisville, but he ultimately threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns as his team hung on for a win. He tossed one interception, but he also ran for 60 yards and a fourth touchdown.
4. Jeremiah Smith (+1200)
Odds Last Week
- Smith +1600
Smith agreed to sit in the second half of Ohio State's dominant win Saturday, but that didn't stop him from reeling in eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns against Ball State.
T2. CJ Carr, Arch Manning (+1100)
Odds Last Week
- Carr +700
- Manning +850
Carr fell off his pedestal in the top spot after Notre Dame took a while to get things going against Wisconsin. He ultimately threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns, while Manning tossed an interception in the win over Texas State but also threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns.
1. Darian Mensah (+650)
Odds Last Week
- Mensah +1100
The Duke transfer is the new Heisman odds leader after a flawless performance against Stanford. He completed 27 of his 30 attempts for 401 yards while throwing for five touchdowns, three of which went to Toney.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2026 Heisman Trophy odds tracker, Week 1: New signal-caller takes over No. 1 spot
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