The Final Four: Meet the 2025 Heisman Trophy Finalists

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The most prestigious individual award in college sports will be decided this Saturday in New York, as four athletes representing three different Power Four conferences and one independent have been named finalists for the 91st annual Heisman Memorial Trophy.

The 2025 race is headlined by a historical resurgence: two of the finalists hail from programs that have never produced a Heisman winner, while the favorite’s candidacy was forged in an 80-year-old drought-breaking victory.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the four players invited to New York, their historic seasons, and the case for and against their winning the award:

1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Hoosiers

Key Stats	Passing Yards: 2,980	TD Passes: 33 (1st Nationally)	Total TDs: 39	Record: 13-0 (Big Ten Champ)

The Case: Mendoza is the heavy favorite after engineering perhaps the greatest single-season turnaround in college football history. Leading the Hoosiers to their first outright Big Ten Championship since 1945 and the program’s first-ever No. 1 ranking, his narrative is irresistible. His performance in the Big Ten Championship win over Ohio State, including a decisive third-down conversion in the final minutes, provided the ultimate Heisman Moment. He is also the Big Ten Offensive Player and Quarterback of the Year.

The History: Mendoza is only the second Heisman finalist in Indiana history, joining 1989 runner-up Anthony Thompson.

2. Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt Commodores

Key Stats	Passing Yards: 3,192	Rushing Yards: 826	Total TDs: 36 (T-4th Nationally)	Record: 10-2

The Case: Pavia, the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, is the dynamic dual-threat force behind Vanderbilt’s best-ever season (10 wins). The graduate senior led the Commodores through a brutal SEC schedule, generating massive yardage and touchdowns against top defenses. He is a phenomenal scrambler and playmaker whose improvisational style has given Vanderbilt an identity not seen in Nashville before. He finished the regular season strong, pushing his name into the thick of the race.

The History: Pavia is the first-ever Heisman finalist from Vanderbilt University. His selection alone is one of the most significant moments in the program’s history.

3. Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State Buckeyes

Key Stats	Completion %: 78.4% (1st Nationally)	Passer Rating: 182.05 (1st Nationally)	TD Passes: 31 (T-2nd Nationally)	Record: 12-1

The Case: Sayin is statistically the most efficient passer in the country. The sophomore broke multiple Ohio State passing records while maintaining a near-perfect completion percentage throughout the season, leading the Buckeyes to a 12-0 regular season record and the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff. He is also a finalist for the Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien Award.

The Hurdle: His biggest setback was the Big Ten Championship Game loss to Indiana, where the Buckeyes’ offense was held to a season-low point total. This late-season defeat caused his odds to fall significantly, though his overall body of work remains stellar.

4. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Key Stats	Rushing Yards: 1,372 (4th Nationally)	Rushing TDs: 18 (T-3rd Nationally)	Total TDs: 21 (2nd Nationally)	Record: 10-2

The Case: Love is the lone running back finalist and the engine of Notre Dame’s offense. His explosive junior campaign included breaking the school’s single-season record for total touchdowns (21), surpassing the mark held by Jerome Bettis. He is one of the nation’s most versatile threats, often delivering huge runs in crucial moments, including an outstanding late-season surge.

The Odds: Running backs face a steep climb in the modern era, but Love is the sixth finalist from Notre Dame and the first since Manti Te’o in 2012. He is unlikely to win but is well-deserved for his massive statistical season.