The WireStatus · ReportedImpact · low
North Dakota State · Mountain West
North Dakota State · Mountain WestNorth Dakota State’s quarterback history keeps a future Heisman push in view
Nathan Hayes drew a broad ESPN dark-horse mention, but the Bison do not yet have a defined Heisman candidate.
WD
The Pate State Wire DeskVerified reporting · full source list below · monitored by an editor
● Reported
AUG 28, 2026
AUG 28, 2026
North Dakota State has had five quarterbacks selected in the NFL draft since 2016, including Carson Wentz, Easton Stick and Trey Lance.
Lance made the 2019 Heisman Trophy Watch List and won the Walter Payton Award after a 16-0 season. The Bison enter 2026 in the Mountain West after going 12-1 overall and 8-0 in conference play in 2025.
ESPN’s David Hale included Nathan Hayes in a deep group of Heisman dark horses: “Don't be surprised if at least one of the names in Tier 11 winds up being in the Heisman race by year's end. There's real talent here,”
Sourcing & standards: Reporting via Yahoo Sports. Produced by the Pate State Wire Desk under the site's verification rules, monitored by an editor. Corrections are timestamped, never silent.