A young quarterback wins a close road game. A receiver turns a short pass into a long touchdown. A defensive end takes over the fourth quarter. Within hours, highlights spread across the country and a new name enters the national conversation.
2026 Rising Stars: The upcoming college football season already has several strong candidates poised for a breakout. From top-ranked Ohio State to programs like Miami, Alabama, and South Carolina, young talent is ready to shape their team's destinies.
Some names on this list are already well known. Others have only shown small signs of what they may become. What connects them is clear talent, a major role and a real chance to decide important games.
Jeremiah Smith: The Game-Changing Receiver
Ohio State’s star receiver is still getting better
Jeremiah Smith is not an unknown prospect anymore. He enters his junior season as one of the best players in the sport. Yet he still belongs on a rising-stars list because his biggest individual season may be ahead of him.
Over his first two college seasons, Smith recorded 163 receptions for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns. No FBS player produced more receiving yards or receiving touchdowns during that period. He also earned a place on the 2026 Walter Camp preseason All-America first team.
Dominant Production: Jeremiah Smith's 163 receptions, 2,558 yards, and 27 touchdowns over two seasons lead all FBS players, signaling a potential record-breaking junior year.
Smith creates problems before the ball reaches him. Defenses must decide whether to place a safety over his side, press him at the line or give him space. Each choice opens another part of Ohio State’s offense.
Versatility and Impact
He can win in several ways:
- He has the strength to beat tight coverage.
- He can catch the ball over defensive backs.
- He creates yards after short passes.
- He forces safeties to defend deeper areas of the field.
Fans should watch how opponents defend him on third down and near the goal line. The box score may show eight catches, but his true impact can also appear when two defenders follow him and another Buckeye gets open.
The biggest question is not whether Smith will produce. It is whether he can stay dominant when every defense builds its plan around stopping him.
Julian Sayin: Precision Under Pressure
Accuracy makes the Ohio State quarterback difficult to pressure
Julian Sayin enters 2026 with more experience than most players his age.
During the 2025 season, he completed 301 of 391 passes for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. His 77% completion rate set Ohio State and Big Ten single-season records. It also ranked third in FBS history.
| Quarterback | Completion % (2025) | Yards (2025) | Touchdowns (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julian Sayin (Ohio State) | 77% | 3,610 | 32 |
| *FBS Avg (2025) | 62% | 2,500 | 20 |
Record-Setting Accuracy: Julian Sayin's 77% completion rate in 2025 not only set Ohio State and Big Ten records but also ranked third all-time in FBS history, highlighting his exceptional precision.
Those numbers explain why Sayin became a Heisman Trophy finalist. They do not fully explain why his game works.
Poise and Decision-Making
Sayin rarely looks rushed when the first option is covered. He keeps his feet under control, moves through his reads and gives receivers catchable passes. Against Wisconsin in 2025, he completed 36 of 42 attempts for 393 yards and four touchdowns.
The practical test for 2026 will come when Ohio State faces pressure. Easy completions are harder to find against top playoff defenses. Sayin must prove that he can protect the ball when the pocket closes and the Buckeyes need seven points rather than a field goal.
Fans should also study his connection with Smith. Their timing can turn an ordinary route into a major gain. If defenses send extra help toward Smith, Sayin must find the open receiver without forcing the ball.
Ohio State has championship expectations. Sayin’s decisions in a few close games may determine whether the Buckeyes meet them.
Malachi Toney: Miami's Versatile Playmaker
Miami can use its sophomore playmaker almost anywhere
Malachi Toney had one of the most productive freshman seasons in recent college football history.
He set Miami single-season records with 109 catches and 1,211 receiving yards. He added 10 receiving touchdowns, 113 rushing yards, 298 punt-return yards and two touchdown passes. His 1,622 all-purpose yards show why Miami does not need to keep him in one role.
| Category | Malachi Toney (2025) | Miami Single-Season Record |
|---|---|---|
| Receptions | 109 | 109 (New Record) |
| Receiving Yards | 1,211 | 1,211 (New Record) |
| Receiving Touchdowns | 10 | N/A (Significant Contributor) |
| Rushing Yards | 113 | N/A (Additional Threat) |
| Punt Return Yards | 298 | N/A (Special Teams Impact) |
| All-Purpose Yards | 1,622 | N/A (Versatile Playmaker) |
Toney earned ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year and FWAA Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. He was also a second-team Associated Press All-American.
Former Miami quarterback Carson Beck described the young receiver in simple terms: “There’s just something different about the kid.”
Unpredictable Threat
That difference appears in how quickly Toney understands space. He knows when to settle between defenders, when to keep running and when to turn upfield. Miami can send him deep, use him from the slot, place him in the backfield or let him handle a direct snap.
Versatility Defined: Malachi Toney's ability to line up deep, in the slot, in the backfield, or take a direct snap makes him Miami's most unpredictable and dangerous offensive weapon.
A realistic game-day example shows his value. Suppose Miami faces third-and-five. Toney may line up near the sideline, move into the slot before the snap and take a short crossing route. On the next drive, the same movement could set up a handoff or a pass from Toney.
That uncertainty forces defenders to communicate. One missed assignment can become a touchdown.
The next step is consistency. Opponents now have a full season of film. Toney must adjust as defenses become more physical and try to limit his touches. His place on the 2026 Maxwell Award watch list suggests that national expectations are already high.
Keelon Russell: Alabama's Next Star Quarterback
Limited game action has not stopped the sophomore from creating buzz
Keelon Russell enters the season with less proven college production than the other players on this list. That is also what makes him so interesting.
Russell played in two games as a backup in 2025. He completed 11 of 15 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns while adding 17 rushing yards. Before college, he was a unanimous five-star recruit and won both Texas and national Gatorade Player of Year honors.
Spring Game Dominance: Keelon Russell's 2026 spring game performance (21/33 for 240 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT) showcased his playmaking ability and generated significant buzz, despite limited prior college action.
His strongest public statement came during Alabama’s 2026 spring game. Russell completed 21 of 33 passes for 240 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He also extended plays with his legs. Alabama receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams said playing with him felt “like you’re playing a video game.”
Mobility and Decision-Making
Spring performances require caution. Quarterbacks do not face a full opposing game plan, and coaches often limit contact. Still, Russell displayed three traits that can carry into the regular season:
- He kept his eyes downfield while moving.
- He created extra time when a play broke down.
- He attacked open areas instead of running at the first sign of pressure.
The key issue is control. A mobile quarterback can create huge plays, but extending every snap can also lead to sacks, turnovers and missed checkdowns. Russell must learn when to improvise and when to take the simple completion.
Fans should watch Alabama’s early third downs. Those situations will show whether Russell can read pressure, make quick choices and keep drives alive. If he handles that part of the job, his physical talent could make him one of the season’s fastest-rising quarterbacks.
Dylan Stewart: Defensive Force for South Carolina
South Carolina’s edge rusher can ruin an offense’s entire plan
Not every rising star plays quarterback or wide receiver.
Dylan Stewart enters his junior season as one of the country’s most dangerous edge defenders. Across 24 games, he has recorded 22.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 12 quarterback hurries and six forced fumbles.
During the 2025 season, Stewart led South Carolina with 12 tackles for loss. He also produced 4.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles on his way to second-team All-SEC honors.
Disruptive Force: In 2025, Dylan Stewart led South Carolina with 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles, earning him second-team All-SEC honors and establishing him as a premier edge defender.
Those totals matter, but defensive impact is not always easy to measure. An offensive coordinator may keep a tight end near Stewart, ask a running back to help block him or move the quarterback away from his side. These changes can reduce his sack total while making the rest of South Carolina’s defense more effective.
Reading the Defense
Watch Stewart before the snap. His position often reveals what the offense fears. If a tackle receives help, another defender may get a one-on-one matchup. If the offense leaves the tackle alone, Stewart has a chance to attack the pocket.
He also affects running plays. His quick first step can send a runner away from the planned gap before the play develops.
Stewart was selected for the 2026 preseason All-SEC team and placed on major national defensive award watch lists. His next challenge is turning steady disruption into complete-game dominance. A few late sacks or forced fumbles in close SEC games could move him from respected defender to national star.
Conclusion: Who to Watch This Season
These five players offer different reasons to watch the 2026 college football season.
Jeremiah Smith can take over a game with one reception. Julian Sayin can control it through smart, accurate passing. Malachi Toney can create from almost any position. Keelon Russell brings the excitement of a gifted quarterback receiving his first major opportunity. Dylan Stewart can change a result without touching the ball.
Statistics will help measure their seasons, but fans should look beyond final totals. Watch how defenses react to Smith and Toney. Study Sayin’s choices under pressure. Track how Russell handles third downs. Notice when offenses change their protection because Stewart is nearby.