Is Darian Mensah the front-runner for the 2026 Heisman Trophy?
Josh Pate reveals his Heisman Trophy lean is Miami quarterback Darian Mensah at +1000 odds, only behind CJ Carr and Arch Manning. He cites Miami's 43 points-per-game average two years ago under Cam Ward and argues Mensah has a better supporting cast with elite depth at receiver, tailback, and offensive line.
Subscribe to "Josh Pate's College Football Show" on YouTube .
Video Transcript
We haven't talked about the Heisman, Jesse, until now because someone, Ty in Chicago, hit us up and said, "Did we ever get an official Heisman pick from you?
I need it like I need air to breathe."
Ty, you should breathe way before you worry about the Heisman in August.
But I respect it.
I respect the commitment to the game.
You have not gotten the Heisman prediction from me.
What I will tell you is I bought a few tickets for the sake of value earlier in the spring 'cause I thought the odds market would move.
And I think I said this on the air, but if I didn't, I'll let you know what I bought so far.
But this doesn't count as my actual prediction.
So John Mateer, it's, it's tradition now.
I bought John Mateer last year, and we all know I would've won had he not gotten hurt.
That's just an indisputable fact.
This year I bought him at plus 3500.
He's plus 2500 now.
Again, value.
And, Keilan Russell, I went to watch Bama practice in the spring.
Keilan Russell had a really good day at practice.
I came home, I looked at the odds market, he was at plus 8,000.
I and I alone bet Keilan Russell to win the Heisman, and that's what I want you to write in your journal tonight, Jesse.
I and I alone made that move.
He's at plus 3,000 now.
Still hadn't been announced as the starting quarterback.
So those are some value plays that I was on.
But as for my lean, and as for the other guy that I bet, my lean in the Heisman is Darian Mensah.
Strong lean actually towards Darian Mensah to win the Heisman.
He is plus 1000 right now.
He's got the third-best odds on the board at FanDuel.
He is only behind C. J. Carr and Arch Manning.
I would take him before either of them.
Love the position he's in.
They averaged 43 per game two years ago with Cam Ward.
That's the territory I think they could be in this year.
I think he has the opportunity to be the best quarterback Mario's had down there, including Cam Ward, because I like the supporting cast he has better than I liked what Cam Ward had.
I think offensive line will end up being a net strength of this team.
That wide receiver room is insanely deep.
That tailback room is very deep.
Darian Mensah himself is a stud.
Cooper Barkate coming with him, I love.
Lofton at tight end could be an impact player.
And I just think about the weaponry, I think about Shannon Dawson being the guy calling plays for you, and I think about the schedule they have and how much opportunity there is here to just annihilate people.
I love where Darian Mensah's at.
I li- I He would be the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman if I ran Pate State Sports Book
