The stage is set for CFB conference championships. For most of the participating teams, it's about the chance to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff, but for one game, it's also an opportunity to win the Heisman Trophy.
Saturday's Big Ten Championship between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana has several storylines. The winner may go into the CFB Playoffs as the top seed, but for the two QB involved, the game could mean something more. Ohio State QB Julian Sayin and Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza are neck-and-neck for the Heisman, and now they'll face off with the most prestigious award in college football hanging in the balance.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia is a dark horse thanks to his recent performances, but the Commodores will not play in a conference championship, which could hurt his chances.
Below, we'll dive into a 2025 Heisman watch update and the Julian Sayin vs. Fernando Mendoza matchup. Use PrizePicks to make CFB picks for Week 15 and beyond.
2025 Heisman Trophy Race Picks, Conference Championship Week
Sayin and Mendoza go head-to-head for the first time, but this is the 33rd time Ohio State and Indiana will meet since 2089. The Buckeyes have dominated this series, holding a 31-0-1 record against the Hoosiers, including a four-game winning streak by 20+ points.
Let’s look at the payouts for Sayin and Mendoza regarding the Heisman Trophy, via PrizePicks Team Picks. With PrizePicks Team Picks, you can get in on who you think will win the Heisman Trophy in the CFB futures section and earn real money if you're right.
- Julian Sayin: No 1.49x | Yes 2.5x
- Fernando Mendoza: No 1.42x | Yes 2.4x
Payouts are as of Friday, 3:00 p.m. ET and are subject to change.
Week 15 2025 Heisman Watch Update
Here are our top Heisman Trophy watch candidates heading into the conference championships.
On PrizePicks, you can win real money by predicting More or Less on weekly stats from these Heisman candidates and other CFB players — including pass yards, TDs, and much more.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
After being No. 1 for the previous two weeks, Mendoza drops to second heading into the Big Ten Championship. This feels more ceremonial because if he wins on Saturday, he could return as the favorite.
Nobody thought 2-9 Purdue would destroy the Hoosiers' hopes of finishing their perfect season. For Mendoza, the game left the door wide open for him to pad stats while helping Indiana make history with the program’s first 12-win season.
Although Mendoza did come away with 3 total TDs, he had only 117 passing yards and 27 yards on the ground. Those are disappointing stats considering the Boilermakers rank 121st in total yards allowed per game (436.5).
It was still a fantastic regular season for Mendoza, who finished with an FBS-leading 32 passing TDs and a second-ranked passer rating. Additionally, some NFL mock drafts have him as a top-five pick.
Ohio State QB Julian Sayin
Sayin faced a tough challenge in Week 14, traveling to a snowy Ann Arbor to help Ohio State secure its first win over Michigan since 2019.
Sayin came up big by throwing for 233 yards and 3 TDs as he led the Buckeyes to a 27-9 win and a perfect 12-0 regular season. Not only was this a win against OSU's biggest rival, but also against a formidable defense. Michigan ranks fifth in the Big Ten in defensive pass EPA (-0.147), via CFB Graphs.
There was pressure on the former five-star recruit as he stepped into a role leading a defending champion program with the expectation of repeating. The sophomore has met those expectations thus far.
Sayin was statistically among the best in the country in the regular season, leading the nation with a 91.4 QBR and a record-setting 78.9% completion rate.
Make College Football Picks on PrizePicks
Julian Sayin is your top contender for the Heisman Trophy. Fernando Mendoza is right behind him, however, and these two face off in the Big Ten Championship.
No matter who you're backing to win the Heisman, you can cash in on your player picks in PrizePicks' real-money college football game every week this season. Just predict More or Less on weekly stat projections and win if your picks are correct.
Check out the Playbook for more CFB DFS picks and college football predictions.
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