The Heisman campaign was narrowed down a bit as we enter Week 8, but one thing remained the same; Jeremiah Smith retained his spot as the odds on leader after a ridiculous 38-yard touchdown catch in a top-five win over Indiana. Bear Bachmeier surges up the board this week, while Gunner Stockton, Keelon Russell, Josh Hoover, and CJ Carr all move down or off the list completely. Let’s get started with the Week 8 Heisman Rankings!
2026 Stats: 52 rec | 984 rec yards | 18.9 ypc |12 TDs
Last Game: 4 rec | 68 rec yards | 17.0 ypc | 1 TD
Next Game: Bye Week
Jeremiah Smith has scored in four-straight games totaling nine touchdowns and 584 yards. Despite only catching four passes in each of his last two games, he continued to impact games with two touchdowns against Maryland and another at Indiana. Smith's odds went from -220 to -120 following Ohio State's road win at Indiana and his 68 yards and a score on four catches. Outside his incredible 38-yard touchdown, Indiana had Smith bottled up. Now that Julian Sayin is expected to miss a couple of weeks with an injury to his shoulder, Smith's Heisman campaign is more vulnerable than ever.

2026 Stats: 1,764 pass yards | 18 pass TDs | 80.2 comp% | 1 INT
Last Game: 326 pass yards | 3 total TDs | 67.7 comp% | 1 INT
Next Game: Vs Pitt — Saturday at 12:00 PM ET
Miami won in controversial fashion against Florida State as the Hurricanes were pushed to their limits. Darian Mensah delivered a beautiful fade to Malachi Toney as the go-ahead touchdown in 2 OT to seal the 43-35 win. Mensah threw three touchdowns for the fifth time in six games and had his third outing of 300-plus yards. His streak of 153 passes without an interception was snapped against the Seminoles as his only blemish. Miami hosts Pitt and goes to North Carolina before their showdown at Notre Dame on Nov. 7. Mensah and Miami can't afford any slip ups before then.
2026 Stats: 1,676 pass yards | 20 total TDs | 67.6 comp% | 4 INTs
Last Game: 241 pass yards | 4 total TDs | 55.6 comp%| 0 INT
Next Game: At #19 Texas — Saturday at 7:30 PM ET
Trinidad Chambliss threw three touchdowns and ran in another during the fourth quarter to put an exclamation mark on the Rebels 31-3 win over Missouri. Chambliss faced his former teammate and the quarterback he replaced at ole Miss last year, Austin Simmons. Chambliss won the matchup with 241 passing yards, no interceptions, and no sacks taken. Ole Miss plays Texas, Auburn, and Georgia over the next three weeks; that's a stretch of opportunity if I've ever seen one.

2026 Stats: 1,257 pass yards | 15 total TDs | 65.8 comp% | 2 INTs
Last Game: 224 pass yards | 4 total TDs | 63.9 comp% | 1 INT
Next Game: At UCF — Saturday at TBD
If I would have known Bear Bachmeier hated Notre Dame because of high school recruiting, I would have bought a Heimsan ticket before Saturday night! Bachmeier went crazy with two rushing touchdowns, one passing score, and he even caught a touchdown on some trickery! Bachmeier led BYU on a 55-yard drive in under four minutes to take the lead with 1:47 remaining. It was a pure thriller in Provo and Bachmeier is the latest player to rise from off the radar to in the Heisman race with one big win.

2026 Stats: 50 rec | 758 rec yards | 15.2 ypc | 8 TDs
Last Game: 11 rec | 154 rec yards | 14.0 ypc | 2 TDs
Next Game: Vs Pitt — Saturday at 12:00 PM ET
Everyone has been talking about Jeremiah Smith and Jesse Legree, so it's only right Malachi Toney responded in a big way against Florida State. Toney caught 11 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns, plus threw a 2-point conversion in 2 OT after catching a nasty fade from Darian Mensah. The performance marked Toney's third game with double-digit receptions and fourth going over the century mark for yards. Toney needs 31 more yards to get the 2,000 receiving yards for his career and he's only a sophomore!
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2026 Stats: 1,660 pass yards | 18 pass TDs | 63.9 comp% | 0 INT
Last Game: 296 pass yards | 1 pass TDs | 50.0 comp% | 0 INT
Next Game: At Michigan — Saturday at 12:00 PM ET
Josh Hoover was so close to having a Heisman moment, but Nick Marsh couldn't get a foot in on a beautiful deep ball on fourth and four with 1:02 to go. Nonetheless, it was an amazing game and Hoover continued his interception-less streak to 169 passes with Indiana. The Hoosiers only have one ranked game remaining and should finish the regular season 11-1 and see Ohio State again in the Big Ten Championship.

2026 Stats: 46 rec | 1,040 rec yards | 22.6 ypc | 14 TDs
Last Game: 8 rec | 108 rec yards | 13.5 ypc | 2 TDs
Next Game: Bye Week
Watch out Jeremiah Smith and Malachi Toney, the world is starting to catch wind of what Jesse Legree is doing with Oregon State and it's been incredible. He leads the nation with 1,040 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns over seven games. Legree has caught at least one touchdown in every game, has three games with two touchdowns, and two games with three scores. He's been a touchdown machine and as consistent as they come with at least 100 yards in all seven games. If he was with a bigger program or better conference, Legree would probably be top three in Heisman odds.
2026 Stats: 1,639 pass yards | 19 total TDs | 55.1 comp% | 1 INT
Last Game: 261 pass yards | 0 TDs | 55.1 comp% | 0 INT
Next Game: Bye Week
CJ Carr had a night he'd like to forget. Notre Dame lost at BYU and the Irish just couldn't seem to finish in the big moments. Carr fumbled a spiked ball, which was an incredible scene, and also delivered a pass to end the game that is debatable whether or not it was pass interference and if there was a second remaining for the Irish. Either way, Carr didn't throw a touchdown and had a season-high 49 pass attempts. The bye week will be a quiet yet busy one for Notre Dame.
2026 Stats: 2,045 pass yards | 18 pass TDs | 67.9 comp% | 3 INTs
Last Game: Bye Week
Next Game: At Wisconsin — Saturday at 7:30 PM ET
USC is set to go to Wisconsin on NBC and Peacock this week, then host #3 Ohio State followed by a road trip to #6 Indiana. If USC wants to make the playoffs, they must go 2-1 or better and Maiava has to be on his p's and q's. I'd expect some lower scoring games over the next three weeks for USC, but if I'm wrong, Maiva will climb the Heisman rankings.

2026 Stats: 1,785 pass yards | 21 total TDs | 70.1 comp% | 8 INT
Last Game: 289 pass yards | 4 pass TDs | 81.6 comp% | 0 INT
Next Game: At Auburn — Saturday at 12:00 PM ET
Over the last four weeks, Sam Leavitt has put up three of his best passer ratings and posted 12 total touchdowns to two interceptions. Leavitt had his first game of the season without a turnover against Mississippi State and torched the Bulldogs for 300 total yards and completed 31 of his 38 passes (81.6%). LSU goes to Auburn next before a stretch of three-straight ranked opponents; Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee. It's now or never for the Leavitt truthers.
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Out of the Top 10
2026 Stats: 1,450 pass yards | 18 total TDs | 66.2 comp% | 4 INTs
Last Game: 258 pass yards | 3 pass TDs | 55.9 comp% | 2 INTs
Next Game: Vs Oklahoma — Saturday at 3:30 PM ET
Kamario Taylor missed the 31-0 loss to LSU following the bye week, which is bad news for the Bulldogs season. Taylor was one of the Heisman favorites just three weeks, but he will become an afterthought with the more time he misses.
2026 Stats: 2,007 pass yards | 21 total TDs | 68.2 comp% | 4 INTs
Last Game: 235 pass yards | 2 pass TDs | 51.7 comp% | 2 INTs
Next Game: Bye Week
Julian Sayin injured his shoulder late against Indiana and is expected to miss several weeks, which ends his Heisman campaign and puts Jeremiah Smith's in jeopardy.
2026 Stats: 1,746 pass yards |17 total TDs | 67.5 comp% | 4 INTs
Last Game: 147 pass yards | 1 rush TD | 65.5 comp% | 2 INT
Next Game: Vs Texas A&M — Saturday at 3:30 PM ET
Keelon Russell had another stinker. Alabama lost at Tennessee and only mangled 10 points. Russell had a season-low 147 passing yards a week after positing a season-low 185 yards. He was held without a passing touchdown for the first time all season.

2026 Stats: 1,570 pass yards |17 total TDs | 74.1 comp% | 4 INTs
Last Game: 272 pass yards | 2 pass TDs | 64.7 comp% | 2 INTs
Next Game: Bye Week
Gunner Stockton committed three turnovers in the stunning home loss to Auburn a week after beating Alabama and claiming the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll. It was the first time since 1990 that the No. 1 team in the AP Poll lost back-to-back weeks.
New to the Top 10

2026 Stats: 1,257 pass yards | 15 total TDs | 65.8 comp% | 2 INTs
Last Game: 224 pass yards | 4 total TDs | 63.9 comp% | 1 INT
Next Game: At UCF — Saturday at TBD
It was an absolute heroic performance from Bear Bachemier as he had a hand in all four BYU touchdowns. BYU's lone remaining ranked game comes at Utah on Nov. 7, which will determine who gets in the Big 12 Championship and if Bachmeier can really win the Heisman or not. I can't wait!

2026 Stats: 46 rec | 1,040 rec yards | 22.6 ypc | 14 TDs
Last Game: 8 rec | 108 rec yards | 13.5 ypc | 2 TDs
Next Game: Bye Week
Legree has 23 catches for 455 yards and eight touchdowns over the last three games. I mean come on! Of course he made his way to my list. It was bound to happen eventually after going ham against Houston and Texas Tech to start the season.
2026 Stats: 2,045 pass yards | 18 pass TDs | 67.9 comp% | 3 INTs
Last Game: Bye Week
Next Game: At Wisconsin — Saturday at 7:30 PM ET
Jayden Maiava makes it back on the list for me despite being on a bye week; that's how bad the Heisman market has become after five of the top seven teams in the AP Poll lost this weekend.

2026 Stats: 1,785 pass yards | 21 total TDs | 70.1 comp% | 8 INT
Last Game: 289 pass yards | 4 pass TDs | 81.6 comp% | 0 INT
Next Game: At Auburn — Saturday at 12:00 PM ET
With Auburn, Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee over the next four games, we could be hearing a lot about Leavitt or not talking about him at all as a Heisman long shot.
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