College Football is out for 99 days; Heisman Chatter is always with us

There are 99 days until the return of college football. That is, if you’re reading this today. If you read this tomorrow, like on May 23, there will be 98. If you come across this in early July, there are still over fifty days to go. (Thankfully, the season is almost here!)

We’re also 203 days away from announcing the winner of the 92nd Heisman Trophy, which still seems a long way away. And it is, unless you’re the parent of a young child and you know that 203 days can pass in the blink of an eye, just like fourth grade.

Before you know it, your fourth grader has graduated from high school, earned a scholarship to California and quickly earned a degree with full honors, gone to graduate school in Indiana and is starting his first job in Las Vegas.

They grow up so quickly. It feels like just yesterday that Fernando Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman and here he is now with his first corporate head shot.

In fact, it’s been just over 160 days since Mendoza claimed the Heisman in New York last December after leading Indiana to the national title, but he’s well on his way to his new job as Raiders quarterback.

Mendoza has participated in all of the Raiders’ OTAs (organized team activities), with team minicamps June 9-11. He will have about five weeks off before training camp begins in the second half of July.

By then, dozens of 2026 Heisman hopefuls — and hundreds of other dreamers — will be neck-deep in conditioning workouts ahead of the opening of their own collegiate camps.

Mendoza’s younger brother, Albertosaw him win the Heisman up close last season as a Hoosier teammate and backup. He has since transferred to Georgia Tech and is now under the tutelage of Fernando’s fellow Heisman winner, Chris Weinke, the Yellow Jackets’ assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.

Alberto still has a quarterback job to win in Atlanta as Georgia Tech replaces 10th-ranked 2025 pick Haynes King. We list Alberto under the category of Heisman dreamer. For now.

ESPN made an early list of the top 10 Heisman favorites on Thursday, including the four returning 2025 Heisman Top 10 finishers – Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (fourth in voting) and wide receiver teammate Jeremiah Smith (sixth), Georgia QB Gunner Stockton (seventh) and Mississippi QB Trinidad Chambers (eighth).

Another notable name on the top 10 list was Texas QB Bow Manning and it doesn’t get more familiar than that. Also on the list was Oklahoma QB Johannes Mateerwho was a Heisman favorite in early 2025 until injuries derailed his campaign and Notre Dame and Oregon returned QBs C.J. Carr And Dante Moorerespectively.

An interesting name floating in the Heisman hopeful stratosphere is Sam Leavittthe former Arizona State signal caller who transferred to LSU. Three seasons ago, that storyline led Sun Devil-turned Tiger QB Jayden Daniels to the 2023 Heisman. New LSU coach Lane Kiffin hopes to repeat the trick.

Talk about lightning in a bottle: Indiana Coach Curt Cignetti hands Mendoza’s Hoosier crown to his third straight veteran transfer QB in former TCU Horned Frog Josh Hoover.

Two years ago, Kurtis Rourke took a flyer on then-first-year Hoosier coach Cignetti, while Cignetti did the same to Rourke, a transfer from Ohio University. Rourke led Indiana to the CFP while finishing ninth in the 2024 Heisman elections.

Last year, Mendoza mania took over the country. Will Hoover have similar success? We certainly aren’t betting against him.

USC has the most Heisman Trophy winners – eight – in the history of the game, most recently Caleb Williams in 2022. Fifth-year head coach Lincoln Riley returns Heisman hopeful QB Jayden Maiava and five offensive line starters, as well as a pair of running backs and a revamped defense. That could all mean another Trojan run at a Heisman.

Texas A&M hasn’t won a Heisman since Johnny Manziel. QB return Marcell Reed was knee-deep in the Heisman chat in 2025 and could emerge as the frontrunner in 2026.

There is a bit of a shortage of running backs on this list. Let’s solve that. Missouris Ahmad Hardy saw his Heisman star shine in 2025 and is back to lead the Tigers. Fellow returning 1,000-yard rushers L.J. Martin (BYU), Cam Dickey (Texas Technology), Jadan Baugh (Florida), Kewan Lacey (Mississippi) and DeSean Bishop (Tennessee) also return as rising stars, not to mention the new Oklahoma State RB Caleb Hawkinswho ran for more than 1,400 yards last year in North Texas.

The Heisman hopeful front always consists of a mix of defensive players, offensive linemen and tight ends who are all – let’s face it – long shots. We are conscious of admitting that. But we’ve seen one wide receiver and a wideout/cornerback among our last six award winners, and two defensive players finished in the top 10 last season.

So dream away everyone! You never know.