QB injuries to Ohio State, UCLA, Oregon and Mississippi State have changed the 2026 season first appeared in The News. Add the Toys News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
QB injuries have significantly impacted the Heisman Trophy race and the battle for playoff position this season.
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Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor and Oregon’s Dantis Moore are the latest quarterbacks to be announced for the season. UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava and Pitt’s Mason Heintschel have already moved on for the year, and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin will not return.
Mississippi State looked capable of making a run for a playoff berth. Taylor highlighted it, getting a Heisman mention because the Bulldogs went 4-0. But the team lost all three games when he suffered a toe injury in a win over Missouri. Alabama played hurt, missed the game against UNC and tried to go against Oklahoma but it didn’t last. Everything was lost.
In the four games where Taylor was healthy, the Bulldogs averaged 43 points per game, including wins over South Carolina and Missouri. Since then they are about 12.7
Moore was among the Heisman favorites at the beginning of the season, and Oregon’s offense was solid, even in its first loss to Oklahoma State. But the Ducks struggled to move the ball when Moore went down in the first half of the win over USC.
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Oregon has averaged 50 points in its first four games and is 3-1. They scored 84 points against Portland State. But since then, the Ducks have averaged 14 points per game and are 1-2.
Oregon used two quarterbacks when Moore was injured, a significant drop-off. Thomas Brock had his moments, and Dylan Raiola had a great fourth quarter in the rally to win over Nebraska, leading his former school. But the Ducks are struggling 4-3 and have a tough time the rest of the way.
UCLA’s Yamaleava suffered a torn ACL against Oregon. The Bruins average 44.8 points in wins over Cal, San Diego, Purdue and Maryland. Oregon beat 17-15, just 17 at Wisconsin and 28 against Michigan State with Ty Dieffenbach leading the scoring. They require a little more to maintain their position.
MORE: Heisman Watch update heading into Week 9
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Ohio Sayin State was considered a Heisman candidate with receiver Jeremiah Smith. But now, Sayin is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury, and it’s unclear how the Buckeyes will deal with Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair is in the back. The Buckeyes were suspended in the game against Indiana because Sayin was injured. They had a bye to cut back, and their first real test will be Saturday against USC.
Pitt’s Heintschel was putting up big numbers and led the Panthers to a 5-0 start before suffering a torn ACL in his right knee against Virginia Tech. He passed for more than 400 yards in two of the first four games. The Panthers have lost three games since his injury, including a 52-23 loss to Miami.