B/R's 2025 Heisman Trophy Rankings after Week 13

In what seemed like another year destined for a quarterback winner of the Heisman Trophy, one weekend has changed the narrative.

Jeremiyah Love is a serious contender now.

Genuinely, it's hard to overstate just how perfect Week 13 ended up being for the Notre Dame running back. He put up huge numbers while most top contenders had an open Saturday or a quiet game.

Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza is still the favorite, and both Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia remain in the hunt.

Love, though, is a strong representative for non-QBs.

The order is subjective yet based on historical voting trends, including individual production and team success.

5. The 'Not Done Yet' Tier

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Marcel Reed

Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia

At this point, Gunner Stockton must be mentioned but certainly is a long shot. The explosive five-touchdown day in the victory over Texas kept him in the running, but he threw for just 196 yards with an interception in a comfortable win against Charlotte. For Stockton to have a shot, UGA needs to beat Georgia Tech on Saturday and get a little help to reach the SEC Championship Game.

Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M

Nestled on the fringe of the front-running group for most of the year, Marcel Reed needs a last-second jolt. His "signature moment" happened at Notre Dame back in Week 3. The good news is A&M plays at Texas on Friday—and, with a win, would head to the SEC Championship Game. As of today, he's likely not a finalist. Check in two weeks from now, and the story may be different.

Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

It's hard to imagine enough of a swell for Jacob Rodriguez, who's gained a bunch of attention in the last two weeks. Still, he's been stellar. He has 100 tackles with 9.5 for loss, grabbed four interceptions, forced seven fumbles, recovered one—which he returned 69 yards for a score—and has a rushing touchdown. He'll collect a good number of votes, especially if Texas Tech wins the Big 12.

4. Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt

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Seriously, will Diego Pavia get a statue?

Perhaps that's an ambitious idea. No matter what happens in Heisman voting, though, he has etched an undeniable place in Vanderbilt history.

During a 45-17 rout of Kentucky, he passed for 484 yards, rushed for 48 and totaled six touchdowns. Vandy improved to 9-2, tying the program's most victories in a single season. He'll have a chance to lead the Commodores to a first-ever 10-win campaign at Tennessee in Week 14—or perhaps in a bowl.

That context is part of Pavia's appeal, yes. He's also second nationally with 3,585 total offensive yards and has accounted for 34 touchdowns.

Pavia should be a Heisman finalist. If Vandy beats Tennessee, lock it in.

3. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

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I did not think Love had a great chance to win. I said as much a week ago.

What changed on Saturday, though, is nobody other than Pavia had a significant game. Love, meanwhile, racked up 171 yards and three touchdowns on the ground in Notre Dame's 70-7 obliteration of Syracuse.

Heading into Week 14, he's third nationally in both rushing yards (1,306) and touchdowns (17). He has 26 catches for 274 yards and three scores, as well.

This accomplishment is, in short, spectacularly impressive.

Love should be able to bulk up those numbers when ND travels to Stanford. But it's important to remember Mendoza and Sayin—and maybe Reed or Stockton—might have two remaining games compared to Love's one.

2. Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State

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Look solely at the box score of Ohio State's 42-9 win over Rutgers, and it doesn't seem like a great day for Julian Sayin. The redshirt freshman hit 13-of-19 passes for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Consider the personnel, though.

Ohio State played without star receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate due to injuries. Together, they've combined for about 55-60 percent of the Buckeyes' pass-catching production. Of course that impacted Sayin.

However, he also assembled a mistake-free game, helped OSU rise to 11-0 and set up a showdown on the road at rival Michigan.

If he performs well as the Buckeyes snap their four-game skid to U-M, be ready for a wave of perfectly timed praise for Sayin.

1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

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The stage is set for Fernando Mendoza.

Friday night, Indiana heads to rival Purdue with an opportunity to clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game with a victory. If that happens, the Hoosiers would set a program record—one established last season—with 12 wins.

Mendoza co-leads the nation in touchdown passes (30) and is tied for second in yards per attempt (9.5). He's third in completion rate (73.0), too.

All season, Mendoza has been lethally efficient for unbeaten Indiana.

Lead the Hoosiers to one final regular-season win, and Mendoza will guide IU into the conference title game with a chance at a 13-0 record, Big Ten crown and potential Heisman-sealing moment.