Top Heisman candidates per Power Four conference

The 2025 preseason Heisman picture features some big names, but who are the top candidates per conference?

With the regular season kicking off this Saturday, here are our top Heisman contenders from each Power Four (sorry, Pac-12) conference, plus one under-the-radar candidate from each.

ACC

Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik | Klubnik rebounded from a disastrous opener against Georgia with an excellent season, helping guide the Tigers to an ACC championship. Clemson bookends its 2025 season with out-of-conference games against LSU and South Carolina, giving the senior quarterback two big opportunities to produce Heisman moments.

Under-the-radar: Duke Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah

Mensah broke through at Tulane in 2024, leading the American Conference in completion percentage (65.9 percent) and yards per attempt (9.5), and threw a season-high 342 yards against Kansas State, indicating power conference competition shouldn't be a challenge.

Big Ten

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith | Arguably college football's best player, Smith should, at worst, be no less than a Heisman finalist this season. The "College Football 26" cover star was sensational as a rookie, ending 2024 with 19 receptions, 381 receiving yards and five touchdowns during the College Football Playoff. He gets an early opportunity — against Associated Press No. 1 Texas in Week 1 — to make himself the early clubhouse leader by carrying over his strong 2024 finish into 2025.

Under-the-radar: Oregon Ducks running back Makhi Hughes

Another Tulane transfer, Hughes rushed for 2,779 yards and 22 touchdowns in two seasons with the Green Wave. Oregon's high-powered offense is the perfect environment for the outstanding back to put up huge numbers again.

Big 12

Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt | Leavitt should be the focal point of the Arizona State offense this fall following running back Cam Skattebo's departure for the NFL. The Big 12 preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Leavitt threw for 2,090 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions in conference play last season. As co-favorites to win the Big 12, Leavitt should have a strong case to be invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony if the Sun Devils reach their lofty expectations.

Under-the-radar: Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier

The Utes sit right behind Arizona State, Kansas State and Texas Tech in preseason Big 12 championship odds and may have found a potential solution to their quarterback woes with Dampier, who threw for 2,768 yards, rushed for 1,166 yards and scored 31 total touchdowns as New Mexico's starting quarterback last season.

SEC

LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier | Two of the past six Heisman winners have been LSU quarterbacks. Nussmeier could join NFL stars Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels by building on last season, his first as the program's starting quarterback, with an even better 2025. A season ago, the 2025 preseason first-team All-SEC quarterback threw 29 touchdowns and averaged 311.7 yards per game, but also led the SEC in interceptions (12). LSU's past two Heisman winners showed remarkable growth in their second seasons, and it's reasonable to expect the same from Nussmeier.

Under-the-rader: Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Zachariah Branch

Branch, 2023's No. 1 high school receiver prospect, was explosive as a freshman at USC, where he scored two return touchdowns, gained 1,164 all-purpose yards and averaged 20.8 yards per punt return. He was less impressive as a sophomore, but SEC coaches are expecting big things from him this season, naming him a first-team all-purpose special teamer, second-team return specialist and third-team wide receiver.