The first two weeks of the college football season are in the books, and there are a number of surprises so far in September. Oregon is the biggest stunner of them all after the Ducks fell to Oklahoma State on Saturday after nearly taking an upset at the hands of Boise State in Week 1.
That has all but knocked Dante Moore out of the Heisman Trophy discussion, at least for now, but a number of other players have stepped up in his place. Miami's Darian Mensah, our preseason Heisman favorite, is going nuclear so far in 2026, albeit against inferior competition. Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss has also been playing great football, and Jeremiah Smith showed why he is still the best player in college football in a loss to Texas in Week 2.
Who else is still sniffing around the top of the Heisman Trophy power rankings this early in the season before conference play heats up?
Honorable mentions:ÃÂ Notre Dame QB CJ Carr, Texas QB Arch Manning, LSU QB Sam Leavitt, Indiana QB Josh Hoover, USC QB Jayden Maiava
5. Kamario Taylor, QB, Mississippi State
Is Kamario Taylor more likely to win the Heisman Trophy than some of the honorable mentions like Carr and Manning? No. But through two weeks, he has earned his spot in the top five with some of the most dynamic play in college football during the young season.
In wins over UL Monroe and Minnesota, Taylor is 38-of-56 with 581 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions. He also has 19 carries for 145 yards and another score, so this has been one of the most productive players in the nation. Taylor will be a fun watch all season and will be a hot name next offseason as one of the top names in the 2028 NFL Draft class.
Things are going to get tougher for Mississippi State very soon, as the Bulldogs have a road test against South Carolina in Week 3 before a home date with Missouri to close out September. Regardless of what happens from here, Taylor is emerging as a star in the making.
4. Malachi Toney, WR, Miami (FL)
Toney followed up his nuclear Week 1 performance with a âÂÂmodestâ four-catch, 96-yard showing against Florida A&M, finding the end zone once in Week 2. His 12-catch, 234-yard, two-touchdown game in Week 1 still keeps him in the top five on this list, and he should stay for a long time considering the relatively easy schedule that Miami has in front of him.
The biggest obstacle that Toney might face in his Heisman push may just be the guy throwing him the ball (more on that later). But when the going gets tough for The U, expect them to continue to find Toney early and often week after week.
3. Jeremiah Smith, WR, OhioÃÂ State
Saturday night wasn't pretty for Ohio State, as the Buckeyes blew a 20-point lead in a shocking loss against Texas that will cost them the No. 1 ranking. Despite that, Smith still showed why he is the best player in college football in the marquee game of the weekend.
Smith finished with eight catches for 164 yards and a touchdown, showing off all of his elite skills in the process. He is an effortless mover and a dominant physical force during all phases of the play. He dominates at the catch point and is nearly impossible to get on the ground after he gets the ball in his hands, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was very intentional about getting him involved in the gameplan early, which is a good sign for Smith moving forward.
This loss won't eliminate Ohio State from any CFP discussions, and the Buckeyes showed that they are still an elite team even in the loss. That should keep Smith in this discussion all year.
2. Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
Chambliss picked up right where he left off last season in 2026 and is off to one of the best starts in the entire country. He tore Louisville up in Week 1 to the tune of 396 total yards and four touchdowns, getting Ole Miss a big win over a ranked team on a national stage.
Chambliss wasn't asked to do quite as much in Week 2, a 41-9 win over an overmatched Charlotte team, but he still finished 23-of-26 with 225 yards and two touchdowns. Now, he steps back into the spotlight once again in Week 3 as Ole Miss welcomes Lane Kiffin back to Oxford for a blockbuster clash with LSU.
1. Darian Mensah, QB, Miami (FL)
Mensah came into the season as our Heisman pick, and he has done nothing to dispel that even against an unthreatening opening slate. No matter who you play, going through two full games with eight touchdown passes and just four incompletions is wildly impressive. Mensah has been accurate and explosive in the passing game, and he and this Miami offense should overpower many of the defenses on its schedule.
Things pick up a little bit for the Hurricanes in Week 3, as they get a prime time date on the road against Wake Forest on Friday night. Mensah getting another prime time spot to show out in front of the whole nation should only add to his lead at the top of this list as conference play approaches.