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Heisman Trophy voters Cliff Brunt and Jeff Hauser cover college football for The Sporting News. Hauser has voted since 2015 and Brunt since 2017. They have compiled an alphabetical watch list of players they would consider strongly for their top three if ballots were due today. The highlighted players are in the top five for one or both.
Bear Bachmeier, QB, BYU
Season Stats: Two games, 415 yards passing, six TDs, no interceptions; 10 carries, 67 yards, two TDs.
Last game: Completed 16 of 26 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-17 win over Arizona on Saturday. He also ran for 37 yards and a score. He gets a boost for playing well in a Big 12 game.
Next game: The Cougars visit Colorado State on Saturday. The matchup also could launch Colorado State quarterback Hauss Hejny into the national spotlight. Hejny, a transfer from Oklahoma State, has nine touchdown passes and a rushing score in two games.
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
Season Stats: Two games, 561 yards passing with five TDs and one interception; 12 carries, 62 yards and a score.
Last game: He followed his dramatic performance against Louisville with a nearly flawless one. He completed 23 of 26 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-9 win over Charlotte on Saturday.
Next game: Here’s where it gets interesting. He faces his former coach, Lane Kiffin, when the Rebels host LSU on Saturday. A win here would give him a strong early boost.
Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana
Season Stats: Two games, 376 yards passing and eight TDs without an interception on just 27 attempts. He has an otherworldly passer rating of 284.9.
Last game: Four of his six completions went for touchdowns in a 55-0 win over Howard on Saturday.
Next game: The Hoosiers host Western Kentucky on Saturday. It’s another chance for the TCU transfer to get comfortable as he gears up Big Ten play.
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 12, 2026Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Season Stats: Two games, 500 yards and five TDs passing.
Last game: Rallied the Longhorns from a 23-3 deficit to beat then-Associated Press No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 on Saturday night. He passed for just 196 yards and a touchdown, but completed 8 of 11 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Next game: The Longhorns, now ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25, will host Texas-San Antonio on Saturday.
Arch Manning connects with Ryan Wingo to close the gap vs. Ohio Statepic.twitter.com/6Va9tPKBIJ
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 13, 2026Darian Mensah, QB, Miami
Season Stats: Two games, 41 of 45, 653 yards, eight TDs, no interceptions, 271.6 passer rating.
Last game: Completed 14 of 15 passes for 252 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the first half of a 77-0 rout of Florida A&M on Friday night.
Next game: The Hurricanes visit Wake Forest on Friday night.
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Season Stats: Two games, 16 catches, 315 yards, three TDs.
Last game: Caught eight passes for 164 yards and a score against Texas on Saturday night.
Next game: The Buckeyes host Kent State on Saturday.
Malachi Toney, WR, Miami
Season Stats: Two games, 16 catches for 330 yards and four TDs.
Last game: Followed up his 234-yard, three-touchdown explosion against Stanford with four catches for 96 yards and another score against Florida A&M on Friday.
Next game: The Hurricanes visit Wake Forest on Friday night.
How did Malachi Toney make this catch? 😱 pic.twitter.com/AHpG62eR1i
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 11, 2026More: Are marquee non-conference games worth scheduling anymore?
On the fringe: C.J. Carr, Notre Dame; Hauss Hejny, Colorado State; Jaylin Carter, Memphis; Reed Harris, Arizona State; Kevin Jennings, SMU; Jayden Maiava, USC; Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State; Dante Moore, Oregon; Julian Sayin, Ohio State; Austin Simmons, Missouri; Gunner Stockton, Georgia.
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