Heisman Trophy rankings: Notre Dame's CJ Carr holds slight lead entering Week 11

2. Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith

Heisman voters shouldn't punish Smith too hard because of Ohio State's downturn since losing starting quarterback Sayin. The potential 2027 NFL Draft No. 1 overall pick remains a strong candidate for the award with three games remaining, leading the Big Ten in receptions (69), receiving yards (1,200) and the country in receiving touchdowns (14).

In last Saturday's loss to Oregon, Smith seven receptions, 133 yards and a touchdown, and he should be extra motivated to help snap a two-game Buckeyes losing streak with Northwestern (6-3, 3-3 in Big Ten) visiting Ohio Stadium. Two years ago as a freshman, Smith had four receptions for 100 yards against the Wildcats, including a 68-yarder that ended with Northwestern safety Robert Fitzgerald, a senior on this year's squad, twisting Smith's ankle, forcing the star wideout to have it taped.

Fitzgerald wasn't flagged for the play, although the Big Ten later told coach Ryan Day that a penalty should have been enforced. (h/t The Columbus Dispatch)

Fortunately for Smith, he didn't suffer any serious damage. The same might not be able to be said for Fitzgerald and the rest of Northwestern on Saturday.

3. Miami Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah

Mensah struggled last Saturday versus Notre Dame without wide receiver Malachi Toney (high ankle sprain), completing a season-low 55.8 percent of his passes and turning the ball over twice in the 31-24 loss. Things may not get any easier this Saturday against his former team, defending ACC champion Duke, which ranks fifth in the country in scoring defense (13 points per game) and has allowed five points the past two weeks.

4. Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Gio Lopez

Arguably, no team has been hotter since the start of October than Wake Forest, which has won its last five games by an average score of 52.8-6.2. Lopez has been brilliant during the stretch and throughout 2026, entering Week 11 with 2,176 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and one interception for the dark horse College Football Playoff contender.

SMU looms on Saturday as a major opportunity for Lopez to boost his candidacy as just his third opponent this season with a winning record. Wake needs to keep stacking wins, too, in order to set up a possible rematch of a September loss to Miami in the ACC title game, where Lopez would have a large spotlight to argue his case.

5. Duke Blue Devils running back Nate Sheppard

Here's a blind sample of three running backs and their stats through nine games:

Player A: 175 carries, 1,148 yards (6.6 yards per carry), eight touchdowns
Player B: 218 carries, 1,254 yards (5.8 yards per carry), 17 touchdowns
Player C: 191 carries, 1,189 yards (6.2 yards per carry), 17 touchdowns

Players A and B are former Alabama running backs Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry, respectively, during their Heisman-winning seasons (2009, 2015), the last two by running backs. Player C is Sheppard, who can raise his profile exponentially in Week 11 with a trip to Miami on deck.

For a conference that has one projected playoff team after Tuesday's CFP rankings reveal, the ACC is shaping up to be a much bigger factor in Heisman conversations.

6. Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Drew Mestemaker

Mestemaker has lived up to the hype for resurgent Oklahoma State, which gets CFP No. 12 Texas Tech (8-1, 5-1 in Big 12) at home this Saturday. The sophomore quarterback has thrown for over 300 yards in eight consecutive games, the longest active streak in FBS. Over his past three games, the North Texas transfer has thrown for 1,075 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions as the Cowboys have averaged 57.3 points per game. In what should be a shootout against the reigning Big 12 champs, Mestemaker will have to once again come out with guns blazing.

7. Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton

Stockton is coming off a four-touchdown performance at Ole Miss, which marked his second consecutive win in a tough road environment after previous beating No. 3 Alabama (7-2, 5-2 in SEC) in October. Like former Georgia Heisman finalist Stetson Bennett, Stockton rarely wows with highlight-reel plays but instead wears teams down with a steady stream of body blows. Far from the sexiest Heisman candidate, Stockton is certainly among the most effective.

8. Iowa State Cyclones running back Aiden Flora

Iowa State (4-5, 2-4 in Big 12) is not a good football team, which is a shame, because it will probably keep Flora from seriously being considered for a Heisman finalist spot. 

The redshirt sophomore has been an incredible story this season, entering 2026 with 15 career carries only to make the most of his expanded role.

Through nine games, the former walk-on leads the Big 12 in rushing (1,119). In Week 5, the dynamic speedster became the second player in Big 12 history with 200 rushing yards, two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in a single game, joining former Texas quarterback Vince Young.

Flora also had a 64-yard punt return touchdown earlier this season against Bowling Green, making him only the fourth FBS player since 1977 with 1,000 rushing yards, two passing touchdowns and a punt return touchdown in a single season. 

He joins future first-round NFL Draft picks Eddie Lee Ivery, Eric Metcalf and Christian McCaffrey, who reached those marks in 2015 when finishing second in Heisman voting.