Overview
- The Heisman Trophy Trust named four finalists — Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, Ohio State QB Julian Sayin and Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love — who will attend Saturday’s ceremony in New York.
- Mendoza guided Indiana to 13-0, a Big Ten championship and the No. 1 College Football Playoff seed, finishing with 2,980 passing yards and an FBS‑leading 33 touchdown passes as betting markets moved him to heavy favorite status.
- Pavia became Vanderbilt’s first finalist after totaling 3,192 passing yards and 27 TDs plus 826 rushing yards and nine scores, closing strong even as the 10-2 Commodores missed the CFP and he publicly pushed his candidacy.
- Sayin posted elite efficiency with a nation‑best 78.4% completion rate, 3,323 yards and 31 TDs; Ohio State enters the Playoff as the No. 2 seed after falling to Indiana in the Big Ten title game.
- Love is the lone non‑quarterback finalist with 1,372 rushing yards and 18 TDs for Notre Dame, which was left out of the Playoff and declined a bowl game; the winner will be announced on ABC.