Heisman Race 2025 List of Finalists for Coveted Trophy Announced

While Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the overwhelming favorite to take home the Heisman Trophy after leading his team to a Big Ten title and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, he will be joined by three fellow finalists in New York for the ceremony.

Mendoza, Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia, Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love were named finalists for the coveted award Monday.

The Heisman Trophy ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

Mendoza is in the driver's seat at this point, but it was very much up for grabs heading into the Big Ten championship game. After all, his Hoosiers were facing Sayin's Buckeyes for a conference crown and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

Indiana Wins Big Ten Title

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Neither quarterback was excellent from a statistical perspective with Mendoza throwing for 222 yards, one touchdown and one interception and Sayin countering with 258 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but the former made a handful of critical plays in the 13-10 win.

Despite taking a hard hit that left him shaken up on his first snap of the game, Mendoza quickly returned and stared down arguably the best defense in the country. He capped off a seven-play, 88-yard drive with a go-ahead touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt in the third quarter and then all but put the game away in the fourth.

Facing a 3rd-and-6 in his own territory with just more than two minutes remaining, Mendoza delivered a perfectly placed pass to Charlie Becker for 33 yards to stun the reigning national champions with the title on the line.

It was a Heisman moment if there ever was one, which is fitting for Mendoza considering he had the year's previous biggest Heisman moment before that when he found Omar Cooper Jr. for the game-winning touchdown while trailing in the final minute at Penn State.

Omar Cooper GW Touchdown

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The loss in the Big Ten title game secured Mendoza's spot and all but ended Sayin's chances at the Heisman Trophy.

Mendoza shining in the biggest moment was quite the blow to Pavia's chances as well. Had neither quarterback come through in the Big Ten title game, the Vanderbilt star was seemingly waiting to become the favorite after leading the Commodores to their first 10-win season in program history.

Pavia was excellent from a statistical perspective while completing 71.2 percent of his passes for 3,192 yards, 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions to go with 826 yards and nine scores on the ground as a runner, but he was left on the outside of the CFP looking in with Sunday's final rankings.

So was Love in a shocking development as Notre Dame dropped outside of the 12-team field.

But that was no fault of the star running back, who ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns to go with 27 catches for 280 yards and three scores. He is one of the best players in the country, but 20 of the 25 Heismans since 2000 have gone to quarterbacks.

And this year's probably will as well.