The 2025 Heisman Trophy finalists were announced Monday, creating a tight race among four standout players. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin are the names on the ballot.
Finalists Overview
All four athletes have delivered remarkable statistics that earned them national recognition. Love leads the nation in rushing yards, Mendoza tops the passing yardage, Pavia sets a school record, and Sayin dominates in completion percentage and quarterback rating. Their performances have not only propelled their teams to strong records but also earned them individual accolades such as conference player of the year and freshman of the year honors.
Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
Love, a junior, ranks fourth nationally with 1,372 rushing yards and fifth in yards per game at 114.33. He has 18 rushing touchdowns, scoring at least one touchdown in each of his final 11 games. Love surpassed Jerome Bettis’ school record for most rushing yards in a season and rushed for over 100 yards six times, including a season‑best 228 yards against USC. He is Notre Dame’s sixth Heisman finalist and the first since Manti Te’o in 2012. The Fighting Irish opted out of bowl consideration after missing the 12‑team College Football Playoff bracket.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
Mendoza, a redshirt junior, was named the 2025 Big Ten Offensive Player and Quarterback of the Year. He led an unbeaten Indiana team to the Big Ten Championship, defeating the previously unbeaten Ohio State Buckeyes and securing the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Indiana achieved its first-ever No. 1 ranking in program history. Mendoza, a Miami, Florida native, completed 226 of 316 passes (71.5 %) for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdown passes, a national lead. He also rushed for 240 yards and six scores, making him Indiana’s second Heisman finalist and the first since 1989.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia
Pavia, a graduate senior, played his second season as a Commodore and guided Vanderbilt to its first 10‑win season. He completed 242 of 340 passes for a school‑record 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns, tying for eighth nationally in passing touchdowns and achieving a 71.2 % completion rate, also eighth in the country. Pavia contributed on the ground, rushing for 826 yards and nine scores, and surpassed 100 rushing yards in two games. His career‑high 484 passing yards and five touchdowns came against Kentucky. Pavia is Vanderbilt’s first-ever Heisman finalist.
Ohio State QB Julian Sayin
Sayin, a sophomore, led the Buckeyes to a 12‑1 record and held the No. 1 ranking for most of the season, finishing second in the College Football Playoff rankings. He earned the 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year award and led the nation in quarterback rating at 182.05. Sayin passed for 3,329 yards and tied for second nationally with 31 touchdown passes, while posting the highest completion percentage in the country at 78.4 % (280 of 357). He helped end a four‑game skid against Michigan with 233 passing yards and three touchdowns, and was intercepted only six times all season. Sayin is Ohio State’s 11th Heisman finalist, the latest since wide‑receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2023, and ties the record for most finalists from a single school alongside Alabama and Oklahoma.
Heisman Context
The 2025 field marks the seventh consecutive year with four finalists, underscoring the award’s competitive nature. The winner will be announced at a ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on ABC. Colorado defensive back Travis Hunter, who won the 2024 award, was drafted No. 2 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars and is preparing to play both ways in the Jaguars’ preseason opener against the Steelers.
Key Takeaways
- Jeremiyah Love tops national rushing charts and sets a Notre Dame record, marking the program’s first Heisman finalist since 2012.
- Fernando Mendoza leads Indiana to a historic No. 1 ranking and a Big Ten Championship, becoming the school’s first Heisman finalist in 36 years.
- Diego Pavia sets Vanderbilt records and achieves the school’s first 10‑win season, earning the first Heisman finalist spot in program history.
- Julian Sayin dominates statistically, leading Ohio State to a 12‑1 record and tying the school’s record for Heisman finalists.
The four finalists showcase a blend of rushing dominance, passing prowess, and team success, setting the stage for an exciting Heisman race that will culminate on Dec. 13.
Closing
As the 2025 Heisman Trophy race heats up, fans and analysts will closely monitor the performances of Love, Mendoza, Pavia, and Sayin. Their impressive statistics and leadership on the field have earned them a place among college football’s elite, and the upcoming ceremony will decide who will add their name to the prestigious list of Heisman winners.
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