Joel Klatt ranks top five contenders for 2026 Heisman Trophy

Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza hoisted the away this past weekend as the winner of the Heisman Trophy in 2025. However, with who all could be back in the sport next season, Joel Klatt is already looking ahead to who could be a Heisman finalist come 2026.

Klatt shared his top-five contenders to be in attendance as finalists next season for the Heisman Trophy during his show on Monday. He then went on to name eighteen more players who could also warrant consideration for the award as well a year from now.

Here were those first five in his rating, though, for the Heisman in ’26, as shared this morning by Klatt:

Ohio State QB Julian Sayin

Sayin, who was in attendance this weekend as a finalist this year in New York, topped this list for Klatt, after he posted a national best of 78.4% completion for 3,323 yards, 31 touchdowns, and six interceptions in his first season as a full-time starter as the quarterback of the Buckeyes. That made him, as well as who’s next, an obvious pick for him in the ranking ahead of his next year in Columbus.

“It’s really hard not to start with the top-two guys being a guy that just finished as a finalist in Julian Sayin, and a guy that just finished, I believe, sixth in the voting which was Jeremiah Smith,” said Klatt. “So, they would probably be my one and two.”

Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

Speaking of, Smith then came in as second for Klatt. That’s after he then missed the ceremony as a finalist this season, as the superstar sophomore receiver came in sixth in 2025.

Smith makes the case as the best player in all of college football, with him at 156 receptions for 2,401 yards and 26 touchdowns, including 80 catches for 1,086 yards and 11 touchdowns so far this season. It’s then obvious to have him in second, as he’ll be back catching passes from who is first here, on this ranking by Klatt.

Oregon QB Dante Moore

In his first season as the starter at Oregon, Moore has posted 72.5% completion for 2,733 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He was a Heisman favorite for much of this season because of that, despite not finishing in the Top-10 of the voting results in 2025.

Still, with another year next fall, Moore could be right back in contention as far as the Heisman goes, which is expected here by Klatt. That is, assuming that he’s not on to the next level, as he could decide to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed

Much like Moore, Reed was also among the leading favorites this season for the Heisman. That status also earned him a spot in the top-five here for Klatt.

In his first year as a full-time starter, Reed has put up 61.8% completion for 2,932 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while also rushing for 466 yards and six more scores. Now, he, with his experience, assuming he’s back in College Station, and his dual-threat capability, could have the kind of numbers we see from someone who’s sitting there in New York City.

Washington QB Demond Williams Jr.

Finally, Williams rounds of the top-five for Klatt coming off his first season as a full-time starter for the Huskies. He could again be a dark horse for the trophy, though, after being at 69.5% completion for 3,065 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, along with 611 rushing yards and six more scores, this year for Washington.

“Watch out for Demond Williams, you know,” said Klatt. “Like, that’s a guy that, I think, could be up there.”

Other Names To Know
QB Sam Leavitt (NCAA Transfer Portal), QB CJ Carr (Notre Dame), WR Malachi Toney (Miami), RB Ahmad Hardy (Missouri), RB Bo Jackson (Ohio State), RB Waymond Jordan (USC), QB LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), QB Jayden Maiava (USC), QB Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss), WR Andrew Marsh (Michigan), QB Bryce Underwood (Michigan), RB Justice Haynes (Michigan), QB Gunner Stockton (Georgia), RB Jordon Davison (Oregon), RB Dierre Hill (Oregon), QB Arch Manning (Texas), QB Ty Simpson (Alabama), QB John Mateer (Oklahoma)

Again, though, based on decisions relating to coming back to college or going to the next level, Klatt said he could see twenty-plus players, if not even more, who could be contenders for the Heisman Trophy. That’s pending what choices are made by those prospects, whether that be as far as the NFL Draft or even the NCAA Transfer Portal, but, all in all, that’s a major statement about the state of the sport right now, says Klatt.

“Here’s the thing. It was really difficult to pick that list because there’s a lot of great names. This is one of the benefits of name, image, and likeness and the revenue-sharing that we’ve got in college football is that guys are going to stay in college football longer. And, I think that we’re going to have an incredible amount of stars,” said Klatt. “I started trying to make this list earlier, and you start listing guys out and you’re like, hold on a second, he could probably in a top-five Heisman list. And, all of a sudden, this list is like 15 names.”

“Like, depending on some draft decisions, like, next year looks loaded with talent in college football,” Klatt said. “I’m sure I’m missing some guys, and I hate the fact that I could be missing some guys. There’s, I’m sure, guys that are going to transfer and be great, and I apologize for missing you right now.”

Bloomington will get to boast about this most recent winner over the next year. However, a whole lot of programs could make a case that the Heisman Trophy will be coming back with them next fall, as pointed out today by Klatt in already looking ahead to 2026.

“I think that’s why we’re going to see a lot of these guys coming back, and on, you know, something like a Heisman list for next year,” Klatt said. “We’re going to have a lot of great players back in the fold for next year in college football.”