Heisman watch 2026
Mountain West Heisman candidates
| # | Player | Season line | Rec. | Pts/g | Nat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 108/182, 1,391 pass yds, 10 TD, 2 INT · 408 rush yds, 6 TD | 4-3 | 23.8 | 37 | |
| 2 | 19/38, 296 pass yds, 1 TD, 4 INT · 391 rush yds, 7 TD | 5-2 | 22.2 | 49 | |
| 3 | 108/172, 1,131 pass yds, 5 TD, 7 INT · 617 rush yds, 6 TD | 5-3 | 18.1 | 101 | |
| 4 | 123/196, 1,470 pass yds, 12 TD, 7 INT · 207 rush yds, 4 TD | 6-2 | 17.2 | 114 | |
| 5 | 8/14, 92 pass yds, 2 TD, 0 INT · 490 rush yds, 6 TD | 5-2 | 15.8 | 146 | |
| 6 | 138/219, 1,620 pass yds, 11 TD, 6 INT | 4-4 | 15.3 | 161 | |
| 7 | 582 rush yds, 5 TD | 3-4 | 15.2 | 163 | |
| 8 | 453 rush yds, 9 TD | 6-1 | 14.3 | 197 | |
| 9 | 543 rush yds, 3 TD | 4-3 | 14.1 | 208 | |
| 10 | 202/337, 2,186 pass yds, 9 TD, 6 INT | 2-6 | 13.5 | 236 | |
| 11 | 480 rush yds, 4 TD | 3-4 | 12.5 | 284 | |
| 12 | 49/87, 787 pass yds, 4 TD, 4 INT · 245 rush yds, 2 TD | 6-1 | 11.1 | 352 |
National top 25
| # | Player | Season line | Rec. | Pts/g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Michael Hawkins Jr. QB · West Virginia | 90/159, 1,598 pass yds, 11 TD, 2 INT · 836 rush yds, 16 TD | 5-3 | 34.9 |
| 2 | 71/104, 952 pass yds, 13 TD, 2 INT · 213 rush yds, 3 TD | 3-4 | 31.6 | |
| 3 | 32/64, 692 pass yds, 7 TD, 1 INT · 872 rush yds, 12 TD | 2-5 | 30.5 | |
| 4 | 188/272, 2,583 pass yds, 24 TD, 2 INT · 1 rush yds, 2 TD | 5-2 | 30.3 | |
| 5 | 39/69, 422 pass yds, 3 TD, 1 INT · 840 rush yds, 16 TD | 5-2 | 29.6 | |
| 6 |  Giovanni Lopez QB · Wake Forest | 140/207, 1,947 pass yds, 17 TD, 1 INT · 254 rush yds, 6 TD | 6-1 | 29.3 |
| 7 |  Eli Gillman RB · Montana | 1,016 rush yds, 13 TD · 22 rec, 237 yds, 5 TD | 4-1 | 29.2 |
| 8 |  Ashton Daniels QB · Florida State | 106/181, 1,618 pass yds, 12 TD, 8 INT · 354 rush yds, 11 TD | 3-4 | 28.3 |
| 9 |  Nate Sheppard RB · Duke | 1/1, 28 pass yds, 1 TD, 0 INT · 875 rush yds, 9 TD · 30 rec, 270 yds, 4 TD | 5-2 | 27.9 |
| 10 |  Lincoln Kienholz QB · Louisville | 121/180, 1,844 pass yds, 10 TD, 3 INT · 251 rush yds, 10 TD | 4-3 | 27.3 |
| 11 |  Darian Mensah QB · Miami | 166/204, 2,151 pass yds, 22 TD, 1 INT · 73 rush yds, 2 TD | 7-0 | 27.3 |
| 12 | 165/264, 2,189 pass yds, 14 TD, 6 INT · 396 rush yds, 8 TD | 0-4 | 27.2 | |
| 13 |  Sam Leavitt QB · LSU | 180/256, 2,171 pass yds, 17 TD, 8 INT · 324 rush yds, 8 TD | 6-2 | 27.2 |
| 14 |  Conner Weigman QB · Houston | 153/233, 2,052 pass yds, 20 TD, 2 INT · 249 rush yds, 6 TD | 6-2 | 26.9 |
| 15 | 46 rec, 1,040 yds, 14 TD | 5-2 | 26.9 | |
| 16 |  Jaylon Tolbert QB · Alcorn State | 164/259, 2,361 pass yds, 24 TD, 8 INT · 260 rush yds, 2 TD | 3-2 | 26.1 |
| 17 |  Aidan Chiles QB · Northwestern | 117/164, 1,617 pass yds, 12 TD, 1 INT · 181 rush yds, 9 TD | 6-1 | 26.1 |
| 18 |  Casey Bullock QB · Davidson | 173/301, 1,809 pass yds, 12 TD, 11 INT · 513 rush yds, 10 TD | 2-3 | 26 |
| 19 |  Drew Mestemaker QB · Oklahoma State | 157/239, 2,326 pass yds, 20 TD, 6 INT · 150 rush yds, 2 TD | 5-2 | 26 |
| 20 | 140/209, 1,746 pass yds, 13 TD, 8 INT · 711 rush yds, 5 TD | 6-2 | 25.8 | |
| 21 |  Bear Bachmeier QB · BYU | 116/184, 1,514 pass yds, 11 TD, 3 INT · 321 rush yds, 7 TD | 6-1 | 25.7 |
| 22 | 112/182, 1,594 pass yds, 12 TD, 2 INT · 336 rush yds, 7 TD | 4-3 | 25.3 | |
| 23 | 166/224, 2,047 pass yds, 18 TD, 4 INT · 122 rush yds, 3 TD | 6-1 | 25.2 | |
| 24 |  Lanorris Sellers QB · South Carolina | 133/219, 1,548 pass yds, 13 TD, 5 INT · 507 rush yds, 4 TD | 4-3 | 25.2 |
| 25 |  Brad Jackson QB · Texas State | 133/194, 1,606 pass yds, 14 TD, 5 INT · 382 rush yds, 5 TD | 4-3 | 25.2 |
2026 season totals 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 Mountain West's best candidates. It updates weekly with the stats. Full profiles are on each player page; for the weekly polls see the rankings.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the Mountain West's top Heisman candidate?
Jackson Arnold, QB for UNLV (4-3): 108/182, 1,391 pass yds, 10 TD, 2 INT · 408 rush yds, 6 TD. That is 23.8 production points per game, No. 37 nationally on this list.
Who leads the Heisman race on production in 2026?
Michael Hawkins Jr. of West Virginia, at 34.9 points per game (90/159, 1,598 pass yds, 11 TD, 2 INT · 836 rush yds, 16 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.