Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker, West Virginia's Michael Hawkins crack Heisman Watch

Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker, West Virginia's Michael Hawkins crack Heisman Watch originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Two very different quarterbacks -- Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker and West Virginia's Michael Hawkins -- debut on the Heisman Watch top contenders list this week.

Mestemaker, a 6-foot-3 traditional pocket passer, has led Oklahoma State to a 5-2 record after transferring in from North Texas. He got off to a rough start in a loss to Tulsa, but bounced back and led the Cowboys to an upset win over Oregon. He has passed for at least 300 yards in six straight games.

Mestemaker threw four touchdown passes in a 57-24 win over Colorado on Saturday. He is deceptively nimble, too -- he ran for 109 yards, including a 75-yard run on the first play of the game against Oregon, the longest ever for an Oklahoma State quarterback.

He had his Heisman moment against the Ducks -- a leaping 10-yard touchdown on which he took off from the 3-yard line, hurdled a defender and was flipped by another before he landed in the end zone.

Drew Mestemaker FLEW on the touchdown 😱 https://t.co/fBTRv0cq7X

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 12, 2026

While Mestemaker has had moments using his feet, Hawkins is a much more accomplished runner. The Oklahoma transfer has 836 yards on the ground and is tied for the FBS lead with 16 rushing touchdowns. He also has compiled 1,598 yards and 11 touchdowns passing while leading the Mountaineers to a 5-3 record.

Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith and Oregon State receiver Jesse Legree held their spots on the top contenders list after byes. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah and receiver Malachi Toney kept their spots by dominating against Pitt.

Two players fell from the top contenders list to the fringe category after rough outings. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss dropped off after throwing three interceptions in a loss to Texas. BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier wasn't at his best in a loss to Central Florida a week after beating Notre Dame.

MORE:Mestemaker leads Oklahoma State past Oregon

Heisman Trophy voters Cliff Brunt and Jeff Hauser cover college football for The Sporting News. Hauser has voted since 2015 and Brunt since 2017. They have compiled an alphabetical watch list of players they would consider strongly for their top three if ballots were due today. The highlighted players are in the top five for one or both.

Below that is a list of fringe players that are being watched but did not crack the top five for either voter this week.

Heisman Watch

Top contenders

Michael Hawkins, QB, West Virginia

Season stats: Eight games, 56.6% completions, 1,598 yards passing, 11 TDs; 836 yards rushing, 16 TDs.

Last game: Passed for 79 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 87 yards and two scores in a 24-20 win over TCU on Saturday.

Next game: West Virginia has a bye before visiting Texas Tech on Nov. 7.

ANOTHER ONE 😤 Michael Hawkins Jr. run for a 36-yd TD 📺 ESPN2

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 24, 2026

Jesse Legree, WR, Oregon State

Season stats: Seven games, 46 catches for 1,040 yards and 14 TDs. Has a touchdown reception of at least 70 yards in four different games.

Last game: Caught eight passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns, including a 90-yard scoring reception, in a 48-30 win over Washington State on Oct. 17.

Next game: Oregon State visits Fresno State on Saturday.

Darian Mensah, QB, Miami

Season stats: Seven games, 81.4% completions, 2,151 yards, 22 TD passes to one interception.

Last game: Completed 31 of 37 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-23 win over Pitt on Saturday.

Next game: Miami visits North Carolina on Saturday.

Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State

Season stats: Seven games, 65.7% completions, 2,326 yards, 20 TD passes; 150 yards and two TDs rushing.

Last game: Passed for 386 yards and four touchdowns in 57-24 rout of Colorado.

Next game: Oklahoma State visits Iowa State on Saturday.

Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

Season stats: Seven games, 52 catches for 984 yards and 12 TDs.

Last game: Caught four passes for 68 yards and a touchdown in a 19-15 win over Indiana on Oct. 17.

Up next: Ohio State visits USC on Saturday.

Malachi Toney, WR, Miami

Season stats: Seven games, 66 catches for 952 yards and 11 TDs; 50 yards rushing.

Last game: Caught 16 passes -- breaking his own single-game school record -- for 194 yards and three touchdowns in the 52-23 win over Pitt on Saturday.

Next game: Miami visits North Carolina on Saturday.

On the fringe: Braden Atkinson, Oregon State; Bear Bachmeier, BYU; Jadan Baugh, Florida; DeSean Bishop, Tennessee; CJ Carr, Notre Dame; Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss; Josh Hoover, Indiana; Kevin Jennings, SMU; Lincoln Kienholz, Louisville; Gio Lopez, Wake Forest; Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State; Jamal Roberts, Missouri; LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina; Nate Sheppard, Duke; Gunner Stockton, Georgia.

More College Football news:

• Week Three Heisman Update
• Week Four Heisman Update
• Week Five Heisman Update
• Week Six Heisman Update
• Week Seven Heisman Update