Week 2 delivered plenty of thrilling finishes and surprising upsets, but despite several clutch, game-winning field goals, no kickers made it onto our Week 2 Heisman poll. The top 5 players who earned votes showcase standout performances that were pivotal in securing some of the weekend’s biggest wins, making for an impressive list of contenders.
Strike the Pose: Week 2 Heisman Poll
Two new players have broken into the Top Five this week, including our new #1. This week’s voting leans heavily toward offensive skill positions, and the poll showcases four quarterbacks and a running back. Travis Hunter, our only defensive player last week, saw a sharp drop in votes after Colorado lost to Nebraska last Saturday night in Lincoln. We also have our first Group of Five player in the rankings this season. New to the poll this week, we will keep you up on how the players ranked compared to the previous weekend. We had two players drop in the rankings, and one’s nearly perfect Saturday helped move him up one more spot.
#5 Ashton Jeantry, Running Back, Bosie State Broncos (NR)
Group of Five, stand up! After earning an honorable mention last week, Ashton Jeanty delivered another impressive showing in Week 2 against Oregon. The junior rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns and added eight receiving yards, marking his sixth career game with 200 or more all-purpose yards. Boise State outgained Oregon 369 to 352 in total yards, further highlighting Jeanty’s impact on the game. Jeantry and the Broncos are on a bye this week before hosting Portland State on the blue turf next week.
#4 Carson Beck, Quarterback, Georgia Bulldogs (⬇️ 2)
What did Carson Beck do to drop two spots in our rankings this week? He completed 18 of 25 passes for 242 yards and threw five touchdowns. Sure, it was against an FCS opponent, but Beck’s performance still demonstrates that he has one of the best arms in the Class of 2025. Most would argue that those numbers are impressive and don’t warrant a drop. However, the two SEC quarterbacks ahead of him either broke records or led their teams to significant wins, which pushed them past Beck in the rankings. It’s less about Beck’s performance and more about the standout performances of his competitors. Beck and the Bulldogs travel to Lexington to face Kentucky this week, where he’ll square off against his former backup, Brock Vandagriff.
#3 Jaxson Dart, Quarterback, Ole Miss Rebels (⬆️ 1)
What do coaches look for in a quarterback? Most would say swagger, creativity, and accuracy. Jaxson Dart embodies all three. Last weekend, Dart had a record-setting performance in Ole Miss’s dominant win over Middle Tennessee State. The senior set new Ole Miss and SEC single-game records with 24 consecutive completions, finishing 25-of-27 for 377 yards and a touchdown. So far this season, Dart has almost as many touchdown passes (six) as incompletions (seven). This week, Dart and Ole Miss hit the road to face Wake Forest in Winston-Salem.
#2 Cam Ward, Quarterback, Miami Hurricanes (⬇️ 1)
Like Beck, Cam Ward’s drop in the rankings this week likely has more to do with the level of competition than his actual performance. Miami easily cruised to a 56-9 win over Florida A&M, and while Ward had another solid showing—completing 20 of 26 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns—his stats came against an FCS opponent, which weighs into how voters evaluate his performance. Ward’s consistency through two games shows his growing command of the Miami offense, and he’ll have another opportunity to shine this week as the Hurricanes face Ball State. A bigger test awaits next weekend when they take on USF, a rising in-state program that could provide a much tougher challenge.
#1 Quinn Ewers, Quarterback, Texas Longhorns (NR)
Quinn Ewers and the Texas Longhorns had a nice little weekend and spoiled the party in Ann Arbor and the Big Noon Kickoff for the Big Ten. The Longhorns jumped out early and looked to be playing on another level as they defeated the defending national champions 31-12 in the Big House. Ewers was not ranked in our initial rankings last week and seemed to take that personally. Ewers went 24-of-36 passing for 246 yards and three touchdowns on the talented Michigan defense. Through two games now, Ewers sits with 506 yards passing and six touchdowns with one interception. Ewers made seemingly big play after big play on Saturday, helping Texas convert third down after third down to keep the Longhorns on the field. Ewers and the Longhorns head home to Austin this week to take on UTSA on Saturday night.
Week 2 Heisman Honorable Mention
Nico Iamaleava earned our Week 2 Heisman honorable mention after leading Tennessee to a dominant victory over NC State in Charlotte. The sophomore quarterback completed 16 of 23 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns despite throwing two interceptions. What stood out most was his resilience in overcoming those mistakes to guide the Vols to a 51-10 win. The performance highlighted Iamaleava’s ability to elevate Tennessee’s offense, reminiscent of the success they had two years ago with Hendon Hooker. As a result, the Vols climbed to #7 in the Week 3 AP poll.
