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The most prestigious individual honor in college football, the Heisman Trophy, has been passed down by plenty of generational players over the years, including Fernando Mendoza who went on to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Heading into week zero, a trio of QBs will look to get off to a hot start to help build their case for winning the award, kicking off the start of an exciting race for the title.
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Heisman Players to Watch for Week ‘Zero’ Games
- Jayden Maiava (QB, USC) – vs. San Jose State
- Ashton Daniels (QB, FSU) – vs. New Mexico State
- CJ Bailey (QB, NCST) – at Virginia
Jayden Maiava | QB, USC – vs. San Jose State
Following in Caleb Williams footsteps, Jayden Maiava has proven he can carry the torch as USC’s starting QB, finishing his 2025 campaign with 3,711 yards and 24 touchdowns while punching in another six scores with his legs. His dual threat ability helped turn the Trojans offense into one of the more formidable units in the nation, leading a group who ranked in the top-10 in Success Rate.
In a stacked class of QBs, Maiava can ill-afford to get off to a slow start should he want to keep his name in contention for the Heisman award, jockeying with the likes of CJ Carr, Dante Moore, and Arch Manning just to name a few. Luckily for the USC signal caller, he will have the perfect opportunity to steal the show in the Trojans Week Zero matchup against San Jose State by relentlessly attacking a secondary who finished last season ranked near dead last in Def Pass EPA and in Explosiveness.
Even with Maiava operating behind a backup center after Killian O’Connor went down with a season ending injury, the Spartans lack of pressure will allow him to remain in the pocket, improving the quality of his throws. Expect Maiava to put together a dominant performance, thrusting his name closer to the top of the oddsboard for the Heisman award in the process.
Ashton Daniels | QB, FSU – vs. New Mexico State
In his brief appearance as Auburn’s starting QB, Ashton Daniels struggled to find his footing, averaging nearly one interception per touchdown while completing just 57.1% of his passes. His lack of individual production made it impossible for the Tigers to play at a competitive level, ranking well below league average in Pass Play PPA, Explosiveness, and in Havoc Allowed.
After transferring to Florida State, Daniels is in a great position to get off to a hot start by neutralizing a New Mexico State secondary who struggled to keep opposing wideouts in front of the sticks per their poor mark in Def Pass Success Rate. Especially with the Seminoles needing to lean heavier on Daniels arm to sustain their drives down the field, countering an Aggies front seven who quietly excelled at stuffing the run, leading to a higher usage rate to help stuff the stat sheet.
CJ Bailey | QB, NC State – at Virginia
One of the more intriguing teams in the nation, North Carolina State has gained serious steam as a sleeper pick to win the ACC while getting the benefit of navigating a very favorable schedule. Leading the Wolfpack is CJ Bailey, an efficient arm who averaged 7.8 yards per throw while generating a total of 31 touchdowns through the air and on the ground.
Every bit of Bailey’s production will be needed to counter a Virginia Cavaliers defense who excelled at all three levels of the field, residing near the top of the board in Success Rate, Finishing Drives, and in Average Field Position. If Bailey can help the Wolfpack generate the upset, then his chances of winning the Heisman will skyrocket with their quality of opponent dropping off a cliff in the back half of their schedule.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
