At long last, the finalists for the 2025 Heisman Trophy have been revealed. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, Ohio State QB Julian Sayin, Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, and Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love each have a chance to take home college football's most coveted award.
Below, we will analyze each of the finalists and explain why they deserve to be the 87th Heisman winner, which is set to be awarded on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
You can make predictions on who will win the Heisman thanks to PrizePicks Team Picks. Just choose the player you think will win the award and earn real-money rewards if you're correct.
2025 Heisman Trophy Finalists: Breaking Down Top Candidates
Here are the four Heisman Trophy finalists and their payout multipliers for the award, via PrizePicks Team Picks. Team Picks data is live as of publishing and is subject to change.
Ohio State QB Julian Sayin
Heisman Trophy Winner Payout: 33.33x Yes
Sayin was last week’s top-ranked Heisman candidate and may have just needed to help Ohio State win the Big Ten Championship to be the favorite. Sayin and the Buckeyes couldn't get it done, however, as they lost their first game of the year to Indiana 13-10.
Sayin did his best to keep OSU in that game, throwing for 258 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. It was his 11th game with a completion rate above 70%.
If voters consider Sayin’s overall stats and Ohio State's season-long dominance, he could win. He led the nation with a 182.1 passer rating, a 93.2 PFF offensive grade, and a 78.9 completion percentage (a new single-season record). As a team, Ohio State had 11 straight wins by two or more possessions and eight by 20+ points.
Despite losing the conference championship, Sayin still has a strong case for winning the Heisman.
Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
Heisman Trophy Winner Payout: 33.33x Yes
Love had a stellar year for Notre Dame, as he finished fourth with 1,372 rushing yards on 6.9 yards per carry. He also became a part of Fighting Irish history, as his 21 all-purpose TDs broke Jerome Bettis’ single-season record. Additionally, he tied Audric Estime’s rushing TD record of 18.
If Love has played his last game in South Bend, he will be one of the more accomplished RB in the program's history. The junior would finish his career with 2,882 rushing yards (seventh) and 36 rushing TDs (third), and his 6.7 yards per carry is the best among the 17 Notre Dame RBs with 2,000+ career yards.
In Notre Dame’s offense, Love wasn’t the workhorse back ,as RB Jadarian Price had 113 carries compared to Love’s 199. It was Love’s big-play ability that helped boost his stats, including the third-most 30+ yard runs.
Love could have the resume fit to be a serious finalist.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia
Heisman Trophy Winner Payout: 8.33x Yes | 1.05x No
Pavia was one of the most fascinating stories of the 2025 college football season, not only because of his personal achievements but also because of how he elevated Vanderbilt. The Commodores soared to new heights with their first-ever 10-win season and were ranked in the top 10 for the first time since 1947.
Pavia played a significant role, as he was one of the most dynamic QBs in the nation, leading the FBS in offensive yards (4,018), ranking fourth in passer rating (171.5), and being one of two players to throw for over 3,000 yards and rush for over 900.
What likely helped Pavia become a finalist was how he finished the season. From Weeks 10-14, he led the country with 1,482 passing yards and was fourth with 12 passing TDs. His 92.5 PFF offensive grade was also second among QBs.
With all his accomplishments, along with elevating a historically underperforming football program to its best season ever, Pavia seems worthy of being the Heisman winner.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
Heisman Trophy Winner Payout: 1.05x Yes | 8.33x No
Like what Pavia did for Vanderbilt, Mendoza accomplished the same for Indiana. This was the best season for that program, as they achieved their first 13-win season and ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the first time.
His numbers this year are among the best, as he led the nation with 33 TDs, was second with 181.4 passer rating, and slotted in at third at 9.4 yards per completion.
It’s not just wins that make Mendoza the Heisman favorite, but also how he won. There are examples in which he came through in high-pressure situations, including throwing the game-winning TD on the last drive against Penn State. What might be his biggest moment of the season was his 33-yard pass on a critical third down against Ohio State to help secure the Big Ten Championship.
The numbers and overall success of the team suggest why Mendoza is the favorite to hoist the Heisman in New York City.
Make Heisman Trophy Picks on PrizePicks
The finalists for the Heisman Trophy have been announced, and when you consider the achievements of each player, the decision might not be as straightforward as one might expect. Does Fernando Mendoza’s success help him win, or could Diego Pavia’s impressive season bring him home the award?
You can make predictions on which player will win the Heisman Trophy on December 13. Just choose the player you think will win on the PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real-money rewards if you’re correct.
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