That 50/50 Heisman Shot? Your Next Winner Is Already Hiding in Plain Sight, And You Won't Believe Who

Listen up, Emerald City! You think you know who's gonna win the Heisman in 2026? Think again, because history is about to drop a truth bomb on your predictions. Every year, we get hyped for the usual suspects, right? The star QBs, the big names from the power conferences. But what if I told you there's a 50-50 chance your next Heisman winner is someone nobody is even talking about yet? Seriously, five of the last ten Heisman champs entered the season with preseason odds of 35/1 or longer. That means we're probably looking past the actual winner right now, and that's exactly why you need to know about Keelon Russell and Malachi Toney. These guys are about to crash the party, and you're gonna want to say you saw it coming.

The Numbers Don't Lie: History Favors the Underdog

Forget the preseason watch lists and the obvious picks for a second, because the numbers are screaming a different story. We're talking about half of the last decade's Heisman winners being long shots when the season kicked off. Fernando Mendoza, for example, took home the trophy in 2025 after starting at a wild 60/1. Travis Hunter was 35/1 in 2024. Remember DeVonta Smith back in 2020? Also 60/1. Joe Burrow in 2019 was 40/1. Lamar Jackson, a force of nature, was 50/1 in 2016! It's a pattern, man. The Heisman isn't always about the biggest name entering the season, but about who puts up elite numbers on a team that's firmly in the College Football Playoff race. Voters want those signature moments, those nationally relevant games where a player's performance directly impacts championship dreams. When a quarterback becomes the

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face of a contender, or a playmaker just explodes onto the scene, that's where the magic happens. And that's why these next two names, with their current FanDuel odds from June 18, are absolute must-watches.

Meet Your Next Heisman Frontrunners (Seriously!)

First up, we've got **Keelon Russell**, quarterback for Alabama, currently sitting at +3500 odds. Now, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer hasn't named his starter yet, saying the competition with Mack could go deep into camp. But if Russell wins that job and Alabama becomes a national title contender, his name will be everywhere. Coaches internally rave about him; his ceiling is probably the highest in the room. This guy was an Elite 11 MVP, and Alabama hasn't had a quarterback prospect this decorated since Bryce Young. He's got all the traits Heisman voters look for. Then there's **Malachi Toney**, wide receiver for Miami, with +3000 odds. After the season Toney put up as a true freshman, it's wild that his name isn't already dominating early Heisman chats. He was one of college football's most electric playmakers a year ago, routinely creating game-changing moments and fueling an explosive offense. Wide receivers typically need historic production and a national spotlight to get Heisman attention, but Toney has exactly the profile to make that happen. He's a dynamic route runner, dangerous once he gets the ball, and is the kind of volume receiver who can make history. So, get ready to see these names rise. This isn't about who everyone's talking about today. It's about who's got the talent and opportunity to outperform expectations and become college football's next unlikely Heisman challenger. Are you ready for the long shot to win it all? You better be!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.