The Heisman Trophy race is starting to take shape heading into Week 6 of the college football season. With a number of stellar individual performances that have shuffled names in and out, it feels like we have a clearer picture of the top three.

Here are the three guys I’d pick to be leading the race.

No. 3: Miami QB Darian Mensah

Mensah has played some of the cleanest football in the country. He has thrown for 1,438 yards with 15 touchdown passes and zero interceptions, which is rare production for any quarterback through five games.

His worst game came against Clemson this past week. And even then, he still played great. Mensah threw for 227 yards against the Tigers and produced three total touchdowns.

The most encouraging part of Mensah’s start is that his floor is already this high. A “bad” game for him still looks like a winning performance for most quarterbacks. He’ll only get better as the competition gets stronger throughout the year, and, frankly, that’s a scary thought for the rest of Miami’s schedule.

No. 2: Alabama QB Keelon Russell

It’s time to start talking about Russell as a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. His performance against Mississippi State was one of his best of the year, and it put the entire country on notice.

Through five games, Russell has thrown for 1,414 yards, 15 total touchdowns, and only two interceptions. Those numbers sit right alongside Mensah’s, and Russell appears to be a big reason why the Crimson Tide are as explosive as they are.

That said, the biggest test of his season arrives this week against Georgia. The Bulldogs will show how good Russell really is. If he plays at the level he showed against Mississippi State, then, without a doubt, Alabama’s quarterback will cement his spot near the top of this race.

No. 1: Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

It’s clear who leads this race. Smith is the frontrunner, and I don’t think anyone will debate it.

His numbers right now are absurd. Smith has 823 yards, nine touchdowns, and 44 receptions through five games. Even more impressive, he’s coming off back-to-back games with more than 200 yards, two touchdowns, and 10 catches.

That kind of stretch is something defenses simply haven’t been able to answer. When a receiver puts up those numbers weekly, he’s the most dangerous player on the field every time he lines up.

Now, wide receivers don’t win the Heisman Trophy often, which makes Smith’s case even more compelling. The last wide receiver to win the award was DeVonta Smith, and comparing their starts paints a clear picture.

Through five games, DeVonta Smith had 556 yards, 44 receptions, and only four touchdowns. Jeremiah Smith has matched him in receptions while outpacing him by 267 yards and five touchdowns over the same stretch. That’s not a close comparison. 

Bottom line: if DeVonta Smith’s season was good enough to win the award, Jeremiah Smith is on pace to blow past that standard.