Mensah tops 2026 college football NIL list ahead of Arch Manning

Miami quarterback Darian Mensah has emerged as college football's highest-paid player for the 2026 season, according to On3's NIL Valuation database, with reports placing him above Arch Manning and a field of star signal-callers across the country. The ranking, published Tuesday, reflects a landscape in which direct revenue sharing under the House v. NCAA settlement has pushed compensation for elite quarterbacks to $5 million or more.

Mensah arrived in Coral Gables after a standout 2025 campaign at Duke, where he threw 34 touchdown passes against just six interceptions and helped the Blue Devils win the ACC Championship. His move to Miami followed a pattern established by Cam Ward and Carson Beck, both of whom transferred to the Hurricanes for significant financial packages before departing for the NFL. Miami's collective has consistently been among the sport's biggest spenders at the quarterback position.

Loaded List Behind Mensah

Oregon's Dante Moore ranks among the other top earners, reportedly pulling in around $5 million after declining to enter the 2025 NFL Draft following an impressive debut season as a starter with the Ducks. LSU's Sam Leavitt, who transferred from Arizona State to play under new head coach Lane Kiffin, is reportedly making north of $4 million. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith — coming off a 1,243-yard season in 2025 and widely regarded as one of the best receiver prospects in recent memory — is among the rare non-quarterbacks near the top of the list.

Other notable earners include Ole Miss dual-threat quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who returned for a sixth year following a legal injunction after the NCAA initially denied his eligibility; Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover, brought in to replace Fernando Mendoza as the Hoosiers aim to sustain their recent success; and Washington's Demond Williams Jr., who remained with the Huskies after threatened legal action stemming from an existing NIL agreement prevented his transfer earlier this year. LSU offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, who transferred from Colorado, is cited as the highest-paid player at his position.

In Miami, Mensah is also playing a mentorship role with the program's backup quarterbacks as the Hurricanes look ahead. Freshman Dereon Coleman, who has added 26 pounds of muscle since arriving in the spring, has been working closely with Mensah during and after practice sessions.

Being with Darian a lot, on and off the field, he's just been pouring into me so much, and I've just been taking in everything. He always gives me a lot of advice, even during practice. You know, he pulls me to the side, or when I'm coming off the field, we'll talk about every play. Then after practice, we'll go upstairs and watch film with each other and he'll pour into me.

— Dereon Coleman, Miami backup quarterback