USDA Heisman Watch
🏆 USDA Heisman Watch: Four Players Emerging at the Top
The 2026 USDA Heisman Trophy race is beginning to take shape, and four players have separated themselves from the pack: Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith, Michigan RB Savion Hiter, Iowa RB Kamari Moulton, and Kansas State QB Avery Johnson. The group represents four very different paths to the most prestigious individual award in college football.
🔴 Jeremiah Smith — Ohio State | WR | Junior
Smith brings perhaps the most explosive skill set to the race. The Ohio State star has already established himself as one of the premier playmakers in college football, and his ability to completely change a game with a few touches makes him impossible to overlook. His real-world 2026 season has also kept him in the national Heisman conversation.
For USDA, Smith has the opportunity to make his case as the dominant receiver in the country. If Ohio State continues competing at the highest level and Smith remains the centerpiece of the offense, his name figures to stay near the top of the conversation.
🟡 Savion Hiter — Michigan | RB | Freshman
Hiter is the youngest player in the group, making his appearance near the top of the Heisman race particularly intriguing. The Michigan running back brings the classic combination of power, explosiveness and big-play potential.
His real-life 2026 profile has already shown flashes of that ability, including a two-touchdown performance against UTEP. In the USDA universe, Hiter has a chance to turn that early momentum into a full-fledged Heisman campaign as the season develops.
🟠 Kamari Moulton — Iowa | RB | Junior (RS)
Moulton represents the old-school Heisman formula: put the offense on your back and make Iowa football revolve around you. As a veteran running back, he has the experience and opportunity to make a sustained push over the course of the season.
The challenge for Moulton will be continuing to produce when the biggest games arrive. A few signature performances against quality opponents could dramatically change the conversation around his candidacy.
🟣 Avery Johnson — Kansas State | QB | Senior
Johnson gives the Heisman race its dynamic quarterback. The Kansas State senior has the opportunity to make his case with both his arm and his legs, giving him multiple ways to impact a game.
Being a senior also adds an interesting element to his campaign. Johnson has the experience, the responsibility and the stage to potentially make a late-season push. If Kansas State continues to win while Johnson remains at the center of the offense, his Heisman momentum could continue climbing.
🏆 Four Players. Four Different Paths.
What makes this USDA Heisman race so interesting is that there isn’t one obvious formula. Smith is the explosive superstar receiver. Hiter is the young running back making noise early. Moulton is the veteran workhorse. Johnson is the dynamic quarterback leading his offense.
With the season still unfolding, every big game can reshape the race. For now, Jeremiah Smith, Savion Hiter, Kamari Moulton and Avery Johnson are the four names sitting at the forefront of the 2026 USDA Heisman Trophy conversation.