College football’s opening week has produced several standout performers who are now contenders for the 2026 Heisman Trophy. Miami’s quarterback-receiver duo of Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney has captured immediate attention after their dominant performance against Stanford. Mensah, a transfer from Duke, completed 90% of his passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns, while Toney hauled in 12 receptions for 234 yards and three scores. Their upcoming matchups against Florida A&M, Wake Forest, and Central Michigan provide favorable opportunities to build their candidacies.
Ohio State’s receiving corps has also made strong impressions to begin the season. Jeremiah Smith accumulated 151 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his team’s victory over Ball State, while quarterback Julian Sayin demonstrated efficiency with minimal turnovers. Smith faces a critical test this weekend against fifth-ranked Texas, a program that has previously limited his scoring output in non-conference play. Other notable early performers include Oregon’s Dante Moore, who orchestrated a second-half comeback against Boise State with 378 passing yards and three touchdowns, and LSU’s Sam Leavitt, who excelled both through the air and on the ground in a dominant 51-10 victory over Clemson.
Indiana’s Josh Hoover and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr have also impressed in their debuts, with both quarterbacks guiding their teams to convincing Week One victories. Hoover completed 81% of his passes against North Texas, while Carr led Notre Dame to a 41-13 rout of Wisconsin. The coming weeks will determine whether these early standouts can maintain their momentum and sustain legitimate Heisman campaigns throughout the season.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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