Heisman watch 2026
Big 12 Heisman candidates
| # | Player | Season line | Rec. | Pts/g | Nat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 47/83, 814 pass yds, 7 TD, 1 INT · 574 rush yds, 11 TD | 3-2 | 35.6 | 1 | |
| 2 | 91/135, 1,185 pass yds, 11 TD, 1 INT · 156 rush yds, 6 TD | 4-1 | 27.8 | 9 | |
| 3 | 88/133, 910 pass yds, 7 TD, 2 INT · 291 rush yds, 3 TD | 3-1 | 26.9 | 15 | |
| 4 | 123/167, 1,398 pass yds, 13 TD, 3 INT · 103 rush yds, 3 TD | 4-1 | 26 | 23 | |
| 5 | 328 rush yds, 5 TD · 15 rec, 154 yds, 4 TD | 4-0 | 25.6 | 26 | |
| 6 | 95/141, 1,271 pass yds, 11 TD, 5 INT | 3-1 | 24.4 | 33 | |
| 7 | 71/101, 896 pass yds, 9 TD, 1 INT · 136 rush yds, 2 TD | 4-0 | 23.4 | 41 | |
| 8 | 2/2, 48 pass yds, 2 TD, 0 INT · 594 rush yds, 6 TD | 3-2 | 23.2 | 44 | |
| 9 | 86/123, 949 pass yds, 6 TD, 0 INT · 193 rush yds, 5 TD | 4-1 | 21.9 | 54 | |
| 10 | 55/86, 704 pass yds, 6 TD, 1 INT · 130 rush yds, 4 TD | 4-0 | 21.8 | 58 | |
| 11 | 71/133, 860 pass yds, 8 TD, 2 INT | 4-1 | 21.8 | 59 | |
| 12 | 78/127, 1,040 pass yds, 10 TD, 3 INT | 2-2 | 21.2 | 63 |
National top 25
| # | Player | Season line | Rec. | Pts/g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 47/83, 814 pass yds, 7 TD, 1 INT · 574 rush yds, 11 TD | 3-2 | 35.6 | |
| 2 |  Eli Gillman RB · Montana | 882 rush yds, 11 TD · 15 rec, 191 yds, 4 TD | 4-1 | 32.9 |
| 3 | 644 rush yds, 6 TD | 4-0 | 30.9 | |
| 4 | 109/153, 1,431 pass yds, 17 TD, 1 INT · 43 rush yds, 4 TD | 5-0 | 30.3 | |
| 5 | Keali'i Ah Yat QB · Montana | 161/234, 1,940 pass yds, 19 TD, 1 INT · 76 rush yds, 3 TD | 4-1 | 29.5 |
| 6 |  Giovanni Lopez QB · Wake Forest | 98/151, 1,377 pass yds, 10 TD, 1 INT · 193 rush yds, 5 TD | 4-1 | 28.5 |
| 7 | 47/73, 619 pass yds, 10 TD, 1 INT | 2-3 | 28.1 | |
| 8 |  Lincoln Kienholz QB · Louisville | 96/139, 1,394 pass yds, 9 TD, 1 INT · 158 rush yds, 6 TD | 2-3 | 27.9 |
| 9 | 91/135, 1,185 pass yds, 11 TD, 1 INT · 156 rush yds, 6 TD | 4-1 | 27.8 | |
| 10 |  Ashton Daniels QB · Florida State | 70/116, 1,111 pass yds, 6 TD, 6 INT · 278 rush yds, 9 TD | 3-2 | 27.6 |
| 11 |  Darian Mensah QB · Miami | 112/133, 1,438 pass yds, 15 TD, 0 INT · 79 rush yds, 2 TD | 5-0 | 27.5 |
| 12 |  Jeremiah Smith WR · Ohio State | 44 rec, 823 yds, 9 TD | 4-1 | 27.4 |
| 13 |  Keelon Russell QB · Alabama | 94/132, 1,414 pass yds, 11 TD, 2 INT · 184 rush yds, 4 TD | 5-0 | 27.2 |
| 14 | 102/154, 1,450 pass yds, 17 TD, 4 INT · 159 rush yds, 1 TD | 4-1 | 27.2 | |
| 15 | 88/133, 910 pass yds, 7 TD, 2 INT · 291 rush yds, 3 TD | 3-1 | 26.9 | |
| 16 | 445 rush yds, 9 TD | 4-0 | 26.8 | |
| 17 |  Kalieb Osborne QB · UConn | 81/140, 1,164 pass yds, 10 TD, 2 INT · 259 rush yds, 5 TD | 2-3 | 26.5 |
| 18 | 571 rush yds, 8 TD · 21 rec, 155 yds, 2 TD | 3-2 | 26.5 | |
| 19 |  Trinidad Chambliss QB · Ole Miss | 102/144, 1,222 pass yds, 8 TD, 3 INT · 108 rush yds, 4 TD | 3-1 | 26.4 |
| 20 |  Jadan Baugh RB · Florida | 613 rush yds, 11 TD | 4-1 | 26.2 |
| 21 | 94/143, 1,142 pass yds, 13 TD, 2 INT · 249 rush yds, 2 TD | 5-0 | 26.1 | |
| 22 | 88/151, 1,320 pass yds, 5 TD, 2 INT · 211 rush yds, 7 TD | 0-4 | 26 | |
| 23 | 123/167, 1,398 pass yds, 13 TD, 3 INT · 103 rush yds, 3 TD | 4-1 | 26 | |
| 24 |  Jaylon Tolbert QB · Alcorn State | 138/211, 1,882 pass yds, 18 TD, 7 INT · 181 rush yds, 1 TD | 3-2 | 25.9 |
| 25 |  Jackson Arnold QB · UNLV | 79/133, 1,068 pass yds, 8 TD, 0 INT · 270 rush yds, 5 TD | 3-2 | 25.9 |
2026 season totals to date from CollegeFootballData via our data hub, players with three or more games. Production points per game: 1 per 25 passing yards and per 10 rushing or receiving yards, 4 per passing TD, 6 per other TD, minus 2 per interception or lost fumble. Not a prediction of voting.
The 2026 Heisman watch ranks every FBS quarterback, running back and receiver by production per game, with each team's record next to it, and pulls out the Big 12's best candidates. It updates weekly with the stats. Full profiles are on each player page; for the weekly polls see the rankings.
The Big 12 Report
One conference, in your inbox every Tuesday.
Standings, the title race and one opinion on the Big 12. No filler.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Big 12's top Heisman candidate?
Michael Hawkins Jr., QB for West Virginia (3-2): 47/83, 814 pass yds, 7 TD, 1 INT · 574 rush yds, 11 TD. That is 35.6 production points per game, No. 1 nationally on this list.
Who leads the Heisman race on production in 2026?
Michael Hawkins Jr. of West Virginia, at 35.6 points per game (47/83, 814 pass yds, 7 TD, 1 INT · 574 rush yds, 11 TD).
How is this Heisman watch ranked?
By production points per game: 1 point per 25 passing yards and per 10 rushing or receiving yards, 4 per passing touchdown, 6 per rushing, receiving or return touchdown, minus 2 per interception or lost fumble, with at least three games played. It measures production only. Heisman voters also weigh team success, shown as each team's record.