By: Steve Smith
It is hard to believe that we are already at the quarter mark of the college football season, with most teams having played three games and some having played as many as four. While it is still ridiculously early even to rank Heisman favorites, it is always a good time to have a power ranking discussion. Who has surged to the top fresh out of the gate? Who is poised to make a run as we enter the meat of conference schedules? Will anyone come out of nowhere later in the season? Eventually, we will discover the answers to these questions. In the meantime, this is where we stand in mid-September.
Before diving in, we’ll go over some parameters. The list below is by no means a prediction of what is to come. It is more of an observation of who has played their way into the Heisman discussion during the infancy of the 2025 season. The list will not include every contender and may not even include the eventual winner of the trophy. I want to stress that there is much more football to play and, thankfully, many more big games and legendary moments to witness. Now it is time for the rankings.
1. Taylen Green – QB, Arkansas. Green has arguably been the most explosive athlete in the country thus far. The 6’6’’, 225lbs Green is second in the country in QBR and has thrown for more than 800 yards and rushed for more than 300 yards, totaling 13 touchdowns. It is difficult to find eight wins on the schedule as the Hogs face a gauntlet of a slate. As previously mentioned, there have to be wins to pull this off, but if Green puts up similar numbers versus Memphis and Notre Dame in his next two games and can somehow earn wins, his odds will take off.
2. John Mateer – QB, Oklahoma. This is more of an eye test placement as Mateer looks the part and certainly has Norman, Oklahoma, and the college football world buzzing. Mateer has 9 total touchdowns and has the Sooners off to a 3-0 start, but he will need to cut down on turnovers as he has thrown an interception in each game through Week 3.
3. Carson Beck – QB, Miami. Beck has completed almost 80% of his passes (78.1%) and has eight total touchdowns against arguably the most difficult schedule through the first part of the season. The Canes are 3-0, and Beck is fourth in QBR at 89.9. Miami appears to be loaded on both sides of the ball, but you get the feeling the Hurricanes will go as Carson Beck goes.
4. Jayden Maiava – QB, USC. Maiava leads the nation in QBR and has yet to commit a turnover for the undefeated Trojans. The UNLV transfer has thrown for almost 1,000 yards, and he looks to join a long lineage of USC players to hoist the Heisman.
5. Dylan Raiola – QB, Nebraska. After a hard-fought opening weekend win over Cincinnati, Raiola and the ‘Huskers have steamrolled lesser competition to a combined score of 127-7. The schedule gets much more difficult starting this week as Nebraska hosts Michigan in their Big Ten opener. If Raiola can continue to control the game and show the improvements he has made as a sophomore, there are opportunities for a big season in Lincoln.
6. Dante Moore – QB, Oregon. Much like Mateer, Dante Moore passes the eye test. He looks the part and has been the engine for a juggernaut Oregon Ducks team. Oregon must get past Oregon State this week to set up a massive, game-of-the-year type showdown with Penn State in “The Whiteout.”
7. Jeremiah Smith – WR, Ohio State. Rough first game against Texas. Since then, 14 catches for 272 yards and three scores in two games. Checks notes… yes, still the best player in college football.
8. Devon Dampier – QB, Utah. Dampier has his Utes team looking like a Big 12 contender early on. He leads the team in passing and rushing with over 800 total yards and eight touchdowns. Dampier looks to put on a show against Texas Tech this week, as it is a game that could have playoff implications down the road.
9. Rocco Becht – QB, Iowa State. It is not always pretty, but Becht has a knack for making plays late to help the Cyclones pull out wins. Iowa State should be favored in every remaining game on its schedule, and it could be a magical season in Ames where fans can dream on a Big 12 championship, and maybe even a Heisman. A steady hand goes a long way.
10. Robert Henry Jr. – RB, UTSA. The senior back is averaging a first down every carry (10.2 yards) and has scored seven times. He could flirt with a 2,000-yard season at this pace and deserves a mention.
