Miami Has Two Heisman Favorites After Explosive Week 1

The Miami Hurricanes may have something special brewing in 2026.

After dominating Stanford 45-6 in their season opener, Miami suddenly has not one, but two players firmly in the Heisman Trophy conversation.

Quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney both put together spectacular performances, immediately launching themselves into the national spotlight.

Darian Mensah Makes His Case

Mensah, a transfer from Duke, looked almost unstoppable in his Miami debut.

The quarterback completed 27 of 30 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns, leading the Hurricanes to a dominant victory. His performance was so impressive that he quickly became the Heisman favorite at several sportsbooks.

At BetMGM, Mensah’s odds moved from +1,300 before the season to +650 following his performance. He also became the favorite at DraftKings.

If Mensah can continue playing at that level against Miami’s tougher opponents, he could become one of the biggest names in college football.

Malachi Toney Is Right Behind Him

Mensah wasn’t the only Miami star making history.

Sophomore wide receiver Malachi Toney completely took over against Stanford, catching 12 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns.

The 234 receiving yards broke Miami’s single-game school record, previously held by Eddie Brown since 1984.

Toney’s Heisman odds also skyrocketed. After opening around +4,000, he moved all the way to +1,400 at BetMGM, putting him among the top contenders for the award.

Miami Could Have A Heisman Race Within Its Own Offense

This is what makes Miami so interesting.

Usually, a team has one clear Heisman candidate who receives most of the attention. The Hurricanes could have two players capable of making a legitimate run at the trophy.

Mensah controls the offense from the quarterback position, while Toney gives him a dynamic target capable of changing a game on any possession.

If both continue producing at this level, Miami could have a Heisman race happening inside its own locker room.

The Hurricanes are already ranked No. 7 nationally, and their explosive opening performance has made them one of the most intriguing teams in the country.

Miami doesn’t just have a Heisman contender. It may have two.