Every Big Ten college football team’s top Heisman contender

Outside of the National Championship, there is only one other award each college football star chases every season, and that is the coveted Heisman trophy.

Dating back to 1935, the Big Ten conference is no stranger to the Heisman trophy, as Chicago’s Jay Berwanger took home the inaugural trophy before the school left the conference.

Now, with a new alignment in 2026 and multiple new members, the Big Ten is home to 28 different Heisman winners and could be on the cusp of another this upcoming season.

MORE: Every SEC college football team’s top Heisman contender

With Fernando Mendoza taking home the 2025 Heisman trophy for Indiana and the Big Ten before embarking on the NFL Draft, it is time to see which star in the conference might follow in those footsteps.

Genuine ContendersJeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State Buckeyes

Entering the season as one of the Heisman betting favorites on multiple sites, Jeremiah Smith has all the tools and talent to become just the fifth receiver in college football history to win the Heisman trophy.

In back-to-back seasons, Smith tallied over 1200 yards and at least 12 touchdowns, but now, as the focal point of the Ohio State offense, he has the opportunity to blow his career numbers through the roof.

He’s a favorite to go top five in next year’s NFL Draft, but will still need a solid season of production to prove he hasn’t lost a step following an injury-riddled 2025.

Dante Moore, QB, Oregon Ducks

Back to improve his stock and possibly become the first quarterback off the board in next year’s draft, Dante Moore is a big-time favorite to win the Heisman trophy, and it’s for very good reason.

Coming off a 30-touchdown passing season, Moore has proven to be lethal with his arm, as there’s seemingly no throw the Ducks quarterback cannot make.

This is essentially a make-or-break year for Moore, who has a lot to lose and only a QB1 spot to gain, considering he was last season’s QB2 on several draft boards.

Still, if he can outdo his 2025 campaign, then there is no way the committee ignores his name when it comes time to vote for the Heisman.

Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana Hoosiers

Transferring from TCU to Indiana after being named the Horned Frogs starter for three seasons, Josh Hoover enters his final year of college football hopeful to fill the shoes of last year’s Heisman winner, Fernando Mendoza.

Paired with one of the best receiving tandems in the nation in Charlie Becker and Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh, new Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover will have an array of weapons to utilize and possibly scratch that 4,000-yard passing mark, which he missed by 51 yards in 2024.

Hoover has already looked very comfortable in camp for Indiana. If he can clean up the interception numbers that have gotten away from him the past two seasons, then perhaps a Heisman bid may be in his future.

Dark HorsesJayden Maiava, QB, USC TrojansNov 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) and head coach Lincoln Riley react after the game against the UCLA Bruins at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Jayden Maiava leads the USC Trojans’ offense for a second consecutive year, following a career-high season that saw the 6-foot-4 quarterback throw for over 3,700 yards and 24 passing touchdowns. Could Lincoln Riley have another Heisman winner up his sleeve?

Bryce Underwood, QB, Michigan Wolverines

Behind arguably the best offensive line in the conference, Michigan’s second-year starter, Bryce Underwood, could possibly play his way into a Heisman nod.

Given how athletic the young gunslinger has proven to be, plus the solid supporting cast around him, if the Wolverines can make a run at the playoffs, his name will definitely be in conversation.

Darius Taylor, RB, Minnesota Golden Gophers

If you want to talk about a player that could be his team’s entire offense, look no further than Minnesota’s Darius Taylor.

He’ll need to prove to be durable as injuries have halted him over the course of his career, but a breakout year could make the Golden Gopher a dark-horse candidate for the award.

Malik Washington, QB, Maryland Terrapins

Another player who may have to put the cape on more than he’d like is Maryland’s Malik Washington, a young gunslinger with all the athletic capabilities to be a star in college football.

While his supporting cast isn’t anything to rave about, if he can make something happen with this Terrapins team, it’d be hard to deny him a spot on the Heisman candidacy.

Nico Iamaleava, QB, UCLA Bruins May 2, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) throws the ball during the spring game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

One thing’s for certain: talent has never been an issue with Nico Iamaleava. The 6-foot-5 dual-threat gunslinger has all the goods to be a top quarterback in college football; he just needs to buy into what UCLA is selling and not go rogue when the going gets tough.

Long Shots

KJ Duff, WR, Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Anthony Colandra, QB, Nebraska Cornhuskers

Trevor Lauck, OT, Iowa Hawkeyes

Kaitin Houser, QB, Illinois Fighting Illini

Caleb Komolafe, RB, Northwestern Wildcats

Alessio Milivojevic, QB, Michigan State Spartans

Colton Joseph, QB, Wisconsin Badgers

Ryan Browne, QB, Purdue Boilermakers

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