By: Steve Smith
The 2025 college football regular season is complete, and this time of year is always bittersweet. We have so much to still look forward to with the Playoffs, Bowl Season, and the Heisman, but we are also just a few short weeks from the dread of the offseason. This Saturday is one of the best days of the season as Army-Navy takes us into the Heisman ceremony, a true college football traditionalist’s dream.
As far as Saturday’s big announcement goes, the finalists are set. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, and Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia will all be present at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room, hoping to become the newest member of college football’s elite fraternity. We know it will be one of those four taking home the hardware, a far cry from most preseason predictions; however, there are still questions leading up to the ceremony.
What are the current betting odds for the finalists?
Fernando Mendoza is the overwhelming favorite at -1800 (odds courtesy of DraftKings). This number suggests that there is little drama remaining. Mendoza and Indiana’s program-defining win in the Big Ten Championship over Ohio State seemed to put the bow on this thing. Diego Pavia has the second-best odds at +900, followed by Love at +25000 and Sayin at +50000. As you can see, the gentlemen in the desert think this thing is over.
Who is missing from the list of finalists?
I actually think the top four guys are there. It feels like a lot of folks had some interest in Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez making it to New York, but other than that, there doesn’t appear to be any major snubs. Gunnar Stockton (Georgia), Ty Simpson (Alabama), and Dante Moore (Oregon) showed flashes of brilliance at times, but at the end of the season, they were not realistic contenders.
What is the significance of Mendoza or Pavia winning?
Ohio State and Notre Dame have a combined 14 past Heisman winners, so they would be joining a long lineage of legends at their respective schools. Mendoza and Pavia are a different story. If either of those guys gets their name called, they will be the first-time winners for their schools. Indiana and Vanderbilt certainly aren’t traditional powers like the Buckeyes and Irish are, but this appears to be a microcosm of today’s game with NIL and transfer portal opening up opportunities for players and teams from a new group of contenders.
Who SHOULD win on Saturday night?
It’s important to remember that the Heisman Trophy is NOT an MVP award. It is supposed to be awarded to the most outstanding player in college football. As far as I am concerned, that is Jeremiyah Love. He has the track record, stats, highlights, and team success that is necessary to be the winner. Love was must-see TV most weeks. The second most outstanding player was Pavia. He has put the Commadores on the map with his stellar play and flashy personality. He too, would make a worthy winner. All four players have been great and earned the trip to the Big Apple, but I feel like Love and Pavia were a cut above. If I had a vote, the order would be Love, Pavia, Mendoza, Sayin.
So, what is the final prediction?
Fernando Mendoza will be the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, instantly becoming a legend for life and a Hoosier God. He has been outstanding this year, and he hopes to cap the dream season off with not only the trophy but also the national championship. If you had told me five years ago that an Indiana quarterback would win the most prestigious individual award in sports, I would have thought you were crazy. That being said, the game is evolving, and that’s where we stand. Congratulations to Mendoza, as another chapter will be added to this storybook Indiana season.
