Jadan Baugh lands in top 3 of latest Heisman Trophy rankings

The 2026 Heisman Trophy race is shaping up to be an all-time race. There looked to be a clear favorite in Trinidad Chambliss after defeating his old coach in Lane Kiffin; however, in college football, so much changes from week to week.

Although Chambliss remains No. 1 in Sports Illustrated’s Heisman rankings after Ole Miss fell to Florida, the gap has narrowed significantly, with more contenders rising with each victory.

The Rebels fell to the Florida Gators, 52-28, in what was Jadan Baugh’s national announcement into the thick of the Heisman race.

How does Baugh stack up amongst Chambliss and the rest of the competition?

The Florida running back now enters Week 5 of the college football season as a “Heisman Favorite” by Sports Illustrated and ranks No. 3 in the race, ahead of emerging fan favorite Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor and just behind Ohio State’s wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Baugh has the Gators sitting at 4-0 and has been running like a man possessed. So far, the Georgia native has recorded 600 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns on 83 carries. He has also contributed two receptions for 18 yards.

The numbers continue to speak for themselves — the Gators’ workhorse is first in total points scored, total touchdowns, rushing touchdowns, and missed tackles, and is the highest-graded offensive player of Pro Football Focus.

The All-SEC running back has had at least three touchdowns in three of his four games and at least two touchdowns in all of his appearances. Baugh also had a game with under 130 rushing yards to go along with his incredible scoring.

The Florida running back is currently on pace for 1,800 rushing yards, which hasn’t been eclipsed since 2004 when Jamario Thomas did it for North Texas.

Since the year 2000, there have only been three running backs to win the Heisman Trophy: Derrick Henry (2015), Mark Ingram (2009), and Reggie Bush (2005). Through their first four games, Jadan Baugh has over 100 more yards than Bush did at the same point in his Heisman season (491) and nearly double the touchdowns he and Henry had to that point (6).

What Baugh is doing is special and borderline unprecedented with how he is executing on the field this season, not to mention he also has another running back in the backfield with him, who is a rising staple in Florida’s offense, Duke Clark.

If Baugh continues this level of dominance against Missouri and beyond, there should be no doubt that he will get an invitation to the New York ceremony.

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