A deep dive on the 2025 Heisman finalists
This year’s Heisman race was fascinating to watch. I feel that this season, in particular, was truly up for grabs from start to finish. We had players who seemed to be in the running all year, but inconsistency was a recurring issue. The four chosen finalists are not only spectacular players—they showed consistent performances week in and week out, which I believe ultimately separated them from the rest.
QB Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
71.2% | 3,192 PYDS | 826 RYDS | 27 TD | 8 INT | 266 YPG
Diego Pavia is the poster child for the new age of college football. He has now played six seasons across three different programs and has excelled at all of them. Pavia is at the center of controversy surrounding NIL, JUCO, and the transfer portal, as he has utilized all three to his advantage—fueling much of the debate around him.
People can say whatever they want about Pavia and his decisions to continue playing college football, but what remains undeniable is his ability to play quarterback. He has proven critics wrong at every phase of his career. He even resurrected a Vanderbilt program that had long been considered the bottom of the SEC—a laughingstock of college football, if you will. He continues to get better every season, and he is now among the top players in the country, fully deserving of that recognition.
Pavia is an elite dual-threat quarterback who can launch the ball deep against any secondary and then torch a defense with his legs on the very next drive. Any offense featuring Diego Pavia is going to be tough to stop. I think the only thing holding him back from winning this year’s Heisman Trophy is the controversy surrounding his name. Love him or hate him, Diego Pavia has absolutely earned his spot as a Heisman finalist.
QB Julian Sayin, Ohio State
78.4% | 3,329 PYDS | 31 TD | 6 INT | 256.1 YPG
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin has had a phenomenal season. I think he surprised a lot of fans with his ability to lead another dominant Buckeye team. While Julian may be viewed by some as small or fragile, he displayed toughness throughout the year.
Critics often argue that Sayin is simply a product of a stacked roster, and while it’s true that he plays with an excellent supporting cast, we’ve seen time and time again that everything starts with the quarterback. Sayin has excelled in all areas and has delivered the football perfectly to his talented receivers, allowing them to thrive.
Another noteworthy point: Julian Sayin is the only Ohio State quarterback in the last four years to beat Michigan, and that alone carries significance. He absolutely deserves to be a Heisman finalist and has a bright future ahead of him.
QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
71.5% | 2,980 PYDS | 33 TD | 6 INT | 229.2 YPG
Coming into the season, Fernando Mendoza was already expected to be one of the top players in the country. Even so, I don’t think anyone anticipated just how well he would perform. Mendoza has far exceeded expectations—and so has his team.
Indiana shocked the college football world by completing its first undefeated regular season and knocking off the No. 1 team in the country, Ohio State. But Mendoza’s true Heisman moment came when he marched down the field at Beaver Stadium for a game-winning drive against Penn State. He looked calm, poised, and fully in control in one of the highest-pressure situations imaginable.
If you go back and watch Mendoza’s tape, you’ll notice that he’s not the biggest, fastest, or strongest quarterback. But his understanding of the game and ability to read defenses is unmatched in college football. Mendoza is yet another player who continues to prove doubters wrong, and because of that, he has a legitimate chance to win this year’s Heisman Trophy.
RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
1,372 YDS | 18 TD | 114.3 YPG
Last but certainly not least is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Love had a spectacular season last year, helping lead Notre Dame to the national championship, where they ultimately fell to Ohio State. Coming into this season, expectations were extremely high—and yet Love still exceeded them.
One remarkable stat worth noting is that he is the first running back ever to record two rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns in a single game—and he did it all in the first two quarters. This highlights not only his ability as a runner but also his exceptional route running and reliable hands.
In my opinion, determining the best player this year is difficult. But after watching Jeremiyah’s tape, there is no doubt that he is the most “pro-ready” player among this year’s finalists.
