With the College Football Playoff bracket officially set, the focus now shifts to the prestigious Heisman Trophy. On Monday night, four standout players were named finalists for the coveted award: Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
Mendoza is currently the frontrunner to claim the Heisman after leading Indiana to their first Big Ten championship since 1967 with a win over Ohio State. His remarkable performance helped the Hoosiers finish the season undefeated with a 13-0 record, securing the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Throughout the season, Mendoza showcased his talent by passing for 2,980 yards, racking up 33 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. If he wins, Mendoza would make history as the first player from Indiana to receive the Heisman Trophy.
Meanwhile, Sayin also had an impressive season, guiding the Buckeyes to a 12-1 record and a spot in the College Football Playoff as the No. 2 seed. He completed better than 78% of his passes, leading the nation in that category with 3,323 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and six interceptions. His contributions were pivotal in Ohio State’s successful run past rivals, including their victory against Michigan.
Pavia’s performance for Vanderbilt was noteworthy; despite not qualifying for the College Football Playoff, he led the Commodores to their first-ever 10-win season. Pavia completed the season with 3,192 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. The Commodores will face Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Love also had an exceptional season with the Fighting Irish, amassing 1,372 rushing yards and totaling 21 touchdowns, averaging an impressive 6.9 yards per carry. However, Notre Dame was disappointed to miss out on a playoff spot and chose not to participate in any bowl game this year, expressing frustration over their exclusion in favor of Miami.
The winner of the Heisman Trophy will be revealed during a ceremony at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday night, broadcasting live on ABC. Last season, Colorado’s Travis Hunter broke the trend as the first non-quarterback to win the award since 2020.
Both Mendoza and Sayin will enjoy first-round byes in the College Football Playoff. Indiana is set to face either No. 8 Oklahoma or No. 9 Alabama on January 1, while Ohio State will play against No. 7 Texas A&M or No. 10 Miami on December 31. As the postseason unfolds, these players have set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the college football season.