After Fernando Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy in December, who will be the next to be named college football’s most outstanding player? The SEC has been shut out in back-to-back years, but will be looking to tie the Big Ten’s mark of 18 winners in 2026.
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach is looking at six (potentially five) SEC players as part of his “way-too-early” Heisman list released on Monday. The “potential” candidate is Trinidad Chambliss, who isn’t even guaranteed to be playing collegiately in 2026 as he and Ole Miss continue to push for a sixth year of eligibility.
While we don’t know what Chambliss’s ultimate status will be, we do know that Marcel Reed will run it back one final time for Texas A&M. The Aggies quarterback helped lead his team to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. Texas‘s Arch Manning, who came on strong at the back end of the season, will be looked at as a much more legitimate Heisman candidate in 2026, with Georgia‘s Gunner Stockton in the hunt as well, per Schlabach.
As far as running backs are concerned, Mizzou’s Ahmad Hardy, the nation’s second-leading rusher in 2025, is on Schlabach’s list, as is Ole Miss’s Kewan Lacy.
Schlabach has several other SEC players as “others to watch.” That includes a trio of quarterbacks in LSU‘s Sam Leavitt, Oklahoma‘s John Mateer, and South Carolina‘s LaNorris Sellers, as well as Georgia RB Nate Frazier and Texas WR Cam Coleman.
Here’s a look at Kalshi‘s marketplace for the 2026 Heisman:
ESPN names 6 SEC players among ‘way-too-early’ Heisman contenders for 2026 Saturday Down South.
Hence then, the article about espn names 6 sec players among way too early heisman contenders for 2026 was published today ( ) and is available on SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ESPN names 6 SEC players among ‘way-too-early’ Heisman contenders for 2026 )
Also on site :