The Heisman hype is finally over, so time to move on to arguing who is actually the best player in this year’s College Football Playoff. There’s no politics, no consideration of position or age or the endless parade of hassle that can make the Heisman drag. The best news– we’ll settle it all (more or less) on the field. Here’s the eight best players in this year’s College Football Playoff.

1. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

Smith is the best player in college football as a true sophomore. He caught 80 passes for 1,086 yards and 11 touchdowns this season for Ohio State. Smith put up five different 100 yard receiving games and was by far the prime mover and shaker at the most dangerous big-play passing attack in the nation. Sayin gets the headlines and the Heisman support, but Smith is the most untouchable talent in his entire sport.

2. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

So he’s not the best, but he’s pretty darn close. The best argument for Mendoza is that few if any quarterbacks could make Indiana take off with the gusto that Mendoza managed all season. Mendoza has thrown for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns while running for 240 yards and six more scores. He’s impressively consistent, is a natural leader, and has done things at Indiana that were previously unimaginable. He deserved the Heisman… but he’s not the best player in the CFP.

3. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech LB

The best defensive player in the nation, there’s an argument to be made that Rodriguez is the best overall. He’s already racked up 117 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four interceptions, and a pair of rushing touchdowns just for fun. He is the engine that makes the ridiculously good Texas Tech defense roll. The only reason he’s not higher than he is would be that Tech’s defense would still be formidable without him. But it probably wouldn’t be in the CFP.

4. Julian Sayin, Ohio State

Yes, it feels like anybody could succeed at QB for Ohio State. But it only feels that way because of how smooth and effortless Sayin makes his job seem. He’s completing 78.4% of his passes on the year for 3,323 yards and 31 touchdowns. If that sounds like video game numbers, it’s because Sayin makes Ohio State’s excellent feel inevitable.

5. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

No Gunner Stockton or Ty Simpson make an appearance here, but Diego Pavia aside, Chambliss was the class of the SEC. Despite starting the season as a backup, he has 3,016 passing yards and another 470 yards on the ground, with a combined 24 touchdowns. He started his career as a starter with three 300+ yard passing games and has replicated that feat in his last three games heading into the CFP.

6. Louis Moore, Indiana

Moore is one of the great weird stories of the season. A JUCO guy who came to Indiana and played well in the struggilng pre-Cignetti days, he transferred to Ole Miss for 2024. He then returned to Indiana for 2025, sued the NCAA to gain eligibility, and played like a maniac. Moore has 74 tackles and six interceptions. He’s 24 years old, he’s back at a school he originally left, and he’s a magnet for the ball at cornerback.

7. Francis Mauigoa, Miami

Offensive linemen tend to get more blame than credit. They don’t put up massive totals of stats and they get noticed mostly when they pick up a holding penalty or a false start. But Mauigoa is the real deal. He’s helped keep Carson Beck clean, with Miami allowing just 11 total sacks all season. Mauigoa was already great. He almost never gets beat in the trenches and probably is the biggest reason that Miami is even in the CFP.

8. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M

The former Bowling Green edge rusher was an absolute terror to opposing linemen. In the 2025 season, Howell has racked up 14 tackles for loss, including 11.5 sacks. He didn’t just feast off easy opponents– 8.5 of those sacks came in SEC play. Howell’s athleticism allows A&M to play aggressively and freely on defense, with no real fear of mistakes. He’s a game-changer.

The 2025 Heisman Trophy ceremony wrapped up at the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room in New York City on Saturday night.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was selected as the 91st recipient of the Heisman Trophy. Mendoza received the award over Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin.

With the 2025 Heisman Trophy race in the rearview mirror, the next question about the award is who can win it in 2026. There are many star players from the 2025 season who could find themselves in the mix next season.

Below is a look at the top five players who are most likely to win the award in 2026.

No. 5- QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

Year: Senior

2025 stats: 3,016 passing yards, 18 pass touchdowns, three interceptions, 470 rush yards, six rush touchdowns

If Diego Pavia can successfully sue his way to another season of eligibility for his 2025 Heisman campaign, Trinidad Chambliss should be able to do the same for 2026.

Chambliss’ career at Ole Miss began with him being thrust into action in the third game of the season with the injury to Austin Simmons. The adaptability Chambliss demonstrated midseason will be critical once again as offensive controls shift from Lane Kiffin to John David Baker.

No. 4- QB Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

Year: Redshirt junior

2025 stats: 2,932 pass yards, 25 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 466 rush yards, six rush touchdowns

Marcel Reed entered 2025 as an intriguing dual-threat quarterback who needed to hone his passing skills. Fast forward to the end of the 2025 season, and Reed has increased his production in the air substantially and is primed to make another jump in 2026.

The biggest challenge for Reed in 2026 will be working with a new offensive coordinator following Collin Klein’s departure. But any capable offensive mind should be able to do good work with an athlete like Reed.

No. 3- QB Arch Manning, Texas

Year: Redshirt junior

2025 stats: 2,942 pass yards, 24 passing touchdowns, seven interceptions, 244 rush yards, eight rush touchdowns

Arch Manning’s start to the 2025 season shuts down any and all preseason Heisman conversations by the end of September. But the way he ended the 2025 season has the college football landscape giving him a second look.

A faulty offensive line should be much improved in 2026 for Manning’s protection. If he can ride off the momentum of performances against quality competition like Vanderbilt and Texas A&M into 2026, watch out.

No. 2- QB Gunner Stockton, Georgia

Year- Senior

2025 stats: 2,691 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions, 442 rush yards, eight rush touchdowns

Gunner Stockton proved a lot of doubters wrong with his heroics for the Bulldogs in 2025. His ability to make plays with his feet is a big reason why he will be in consideration for a Heisman Trophy in 2026.

Stetson Bennett IV will always receive the most attention for winning two national titles, but Stockton may be the most complete quarterback Georgia has fielded under Kirby Smart

No. 1- WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

Year: Junior

2025 stats: 80 receptions, 1,086 receiving yards, 11 receiving touchdowns, 20 rush yards, one rush touchdown

Very rarely is there a wide receiver who is capable of competing with the best quarterbacks in college football for a Heisman Trophy. Jeremiah Smith is one of those wide receivers.

The run he put together as a freshman in the 2024 College Football Playoff would have the NFL considering him as the best receiver in the 2025 draft had he been eligible. Another run like that in the 2025 College Football Playoff would firmly insert him into the 2026 Heisman conversation.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza swept to an easy Heisman Trophy victory on Saturday, but everyone wasn’t convinced of his credentials. Count long-time sports personality Skip Bayless among those who aren’t on board with the pick. Bayless, who spent years with FOX Sports and ESPN, took to social media with his take on the Heisman win.

Heisman Results

It’s worth noting that Mendoza not only easily won the award, with 643 first-place votes to 189 for the second-place finisher, Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia. He also comfortably won the voting from all six geographic regions into which voting is divided. The fan vote for the Heisman went to neither Mendoza nor Pavia, but to Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez. But Bayless’s take went a different direction.

Skip Bayless’s Take

Congrats to Fernando Mendoza… nice memorized, rehearsed speech… but Diego Pavia deserved this award for his performance on the field, even if his swagger and edge rubbed some voters and viewers the wrong way.

Skip Bayless

Pavia’s Case

Pavia put together an impressive campaign, leading Vanderilt to 10 wins for the first time in program history. He passed for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns while rushing for 826 yards and nine more touchdowns. A season ago, Pavia led Vanderbilt to seven wins, including an upset of then-No. 1 Alabama that spring-boarded the program to national relevance. Of course, Skip Bayless happened to graduate from Vanderbilt.

Pavia likely was hurt by a season in which he lacked a marquee win– Vandy’s best win on the season based on the current polls was over No. 25 Missouri. He also didn’t play especially well against top competition– throwing for six touchdowns and four interceptions against winning FBS teams. Of course, Vanderbilt came up just shy of the College Football Playoff.

Mendoza’s Case

Mendoza, on the other hand, led Indiana to an undefeated season and a No. 1 ranking. Mendoza has passed for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns and rushed for another 240 yards and six scores. He did take advantage of some big-game moments in a comeback win over Penn State and the upset of Ohio State in the Big Ten title game. Mendoza passed for 13 touchdowns and three interceptions against winning FBS teams.

Critics note that Mendoza’s big moment came against a Penn State team that fired its coach and struggled to a 6-6 season. His resume includes just two wins over currently ranked teams, although both Oregon and Ohio State are in the fop five. Mendoza threw for just two touchdowns total in those two wins (which were essentially defensive battles). But most voters clearly disagreed with Bayless’s take and were comfortable with Mendoza’s Heisman claim.

Being the head coach who replaces a legend is one of the toughest gigs in college football, but having to step into the shoes of the all-time winner of national championships is quite another task.

And despite being on the right side of most metrics, Kalen DeBoer could be facing more than embarrassment if Alabama doesn’t beat Oklahoma in the first-round College Football Playoff game this coming week.

Former Alabama running back Damien Harris thinks his place at the school is in jeopardy.

Is Kalen DeBoer’s job at risk?

“In my opinion, I think his job is on the line with this game, and I think there’s a lot of reasons why,” Harris said on CBS Sports.

“We’ve seen how hard it is to beat a team twice in college football, and if we look at this Alabama team, and say you showed no improvement from the first time you played Oklahoma to the second time, you weren’t able to make adjustments to flip the script of that game, and you can’t win that football game [after] luckily getting into the playoffs, that’s going to be a problem.”

Oklahoma has Alabama’s number

DeBoer is already 0-2 against Oklahoma during his two-year tenure at Alabama and now they return to Norman for a rematch against one of the best defenses in the country.

Dropping to 0-3 would put DeBoer’s place in some peril, Harris argues, especially given some of the talk around other schools reportedly being interested in him, talk that increased after Michigan came open suddenly last week.

That’s not good enough

“Listen, this isn’t the tradition, this isn’t the history that Alabama fans are used to. This isn’t the standard of excellence that’s used to being had in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama. People are still talking about that,” Harris said.

“I know it’s Year Two. I know we’re talking about needing to give coaches time, but when we’re talking about the University of Alabama and the legacy that needs to be set, Kalen DeBoer needs to put his own DNA on that.”

So far, he hasn’t. 

“We’re not seeing that right now. We’re seeing a team that’s full of a lot of potential, has a lot of talent, a lot of resources, but they just haven’t lived up to the billing quite yet during the Kalen DeBoer tenure,” he said.

“All that being said, I think Kalen DeBoer’s job will be in a little bit of jeopardy going into next season if they don’t win this football game.”

But is any of this true?

Speaking frankly, no.

Alabama knew the stakes of finding the right person to replace Nick Saban, the man who defined college football in the 21st century, perhaps for all time, and took great care to find his successor.

DeBoer has been a proven winner, and even despite his relative struggles and losses in two years with the Crimson Tide, is still ahead of the game and has the program in the national title field.

More to it, all of the insider reporting around the coach suggests that he is more than happy being at Alabama, and is entirely focused on leading the school into the future.

And while Michigan is still a seductive opportunity given its prestige, the condition of the athletic department is a genuine concern, before and after the shocking dismissal of Sherrone Moore, who was fired for an alleged improper relationship and landed in jail on multiple charges.

Facing a bevy of negative headlines since the Jim Harbaugh era, whether it be around Covid-era recruiting violations, the Connor Stalions scandal and sign-stealing allegations, and the sudden shocking developments around Moore, even the school itself seems concerned, launching an investigation into itself and its culture.

That would not be an ideal landing spot for a coach who already has one of the top five positions in college football, is in the playoff, and likes where he is. Win or lose this week.

(Harris)

Read more from College Football HQ

Kalen DeBoer isn’t heading to Michigan.

The Alabama coach decided to release a statement Sunday via Yea Alabama, the university’s NIL collective.

“I have not spoken and have no interest in speaking with anyone else about any other job,” the statement from DeBoer read. “I am fully committed to this program and look forward to continuing as the head football coach at the University of Alabama.”

DeBoer said he and his family “are very happy in Tuscaloosa” and are grateful for the support of UA president Peter Mohler, athletics director Greg Byrne, the UA System Board of Trustees “and so many others.”

“We have an incredible opportunity in front of us, so my sole focus is on Alabama football and our preparations to play Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff,” read the statement from DeBoer.

DeBoer was immediately highlighted as a top candidate to watch to coach the Wolverines once Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore for cause on Wednesday. DeBoer had also been mentioned as a candidate for the Penn State job before he shut down those rumors ahead of the SEC Championship Game.

DeBoer and the Crimson Tide are preparing for the College Football Playoff. No. 9 Alabama will face No. 8 Oklahoma on Friday, Dec. 19 in Norman, Oklahoma in the first round of the 12-team playoff. The winner will advance to the Rose Bowl to face No. 1 Indiana.

“We are proud to have Coach DeBoer leading our football program at The University of Alabama,” Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne posted to social media. “He is an incredible coach and does an excellent job with the development of our student-athletes, both on and off the field. Just as he is committed to this team, we are committed to him, and we look forward to taking the field Friday in the first round of the College Football Playoff.”

The game will mark the first for DeBoer as part of the 12-team playoff but his second playoff appearance overall. DeBoer led the Washington Huskies to the national championship game in 2023. Then he agreed to replace Nick Saban at Alabama ahead of the 2024 season.

In 2024, he finished 9-4 and missed the College Football Playoff. Then Alabama improved in his second season, finishing 10-2 in the regular season to reach the SEC Championship Game. The Crimson Tide lost to Georgia in Atlanta. As a result, Alabama heads into the playoff with a 10-3 record.

Heading into the playoff, DeBoer holds an 18-5 record in games against AP top 25 opponents over his time at Alabama, Washington and Fresno State.

Troy Aikman is joining a growing list of major voices calling out the direction of college football.

The Hall of Fame quarterback made the comments during Monday’s episode of “Sports Media with Richard Deitsch,” where he said the current landscape has become a “wild west” with very few meaningful rules.

Aikman made the remark during a discussion about Lane Kiffin’s abrupt departure from Ole Miss and vowed never again to contribute under the current name, image, and likeness rules.

Host Richard Deitsch asked whether Ole Miss should have allowed Kiffin to finish the season even though he was leaving for LSU.

The school blocked Kiffin from doing so.

Aikman answered by turning to the larger problems affecting college football.

He said the chaos surrounding coaching moves, player movement, and money all point to a system without any real structure.

He then shared a story of his own experience with NIL.

Aikman revealed that he personally contributed money to help a UCLA football player. He said he had never met the player and had only donated once.

According to Aikman, the player stayed for only a single season before transferring to another school.

Troy Aikman on NIL:

“I gave money to a kid, I won’t mention who. I’ve done it one time at UCLA, never met the young man. He was there a year, he left after the year. I wrote a sizable check, and he went to another school. I didn’t even get so much as a thank you note. So, it’s… pic.twitter.com/HqkRIHZUkY

— College Sports Only (@CSOonX) December 9, 2025

Aikman said he never even received a thank you note after writing what he described as a large check.

That experience led Aikman to vow never again to contribute his own cash to his alma mater.

Calls for the NCAA to impose stricter guidelines on transfers and payments have grown throughout this season. Many want limits on NIL, a structured transfer system, and clearer rules about when coaches and players can leave a program.

This year’s coaching carousel intensified those concerns.

Kiffin left a playoff-bound Ole Miss squad for LSU.

Players can also transfer as many times as they want, and they can do so while earning unlimited NIL compensation.

The sudden shift has completely upended norms that defined the sport for more than a century.

For decades, players risked punishment for something as minor as accepting the wrong meal from the wrong person.

Now, the system allows widespread payments to entire rosters with almost no restrictions.

Despite the negatives, the new rules have helped historically bad programs become relevant.

Perennial cellar dweller Indiana ended the 2025 regular season ranked number 1.

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