Overview
- FanDuel lists Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the Week 12 favorite at +130 ahead of Ohio State’s Julian Sayin (+170), while BetMGM slightly favors Sayin at +160 over Mendoza at +175.
- Current coverage coalesces around four leaders—Mendoza, Sayin, Alabama’s Ty Simpson and Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed—with projections pointing to Ohio State–Indiana and Alabama–Texas A&M showdowns shaping final ballots.
- Mendoza strengthened his case with a late, game-winning touchdown drive at Penn State, a moment widely cited as a defining addition to his résumé.
- Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez surged into the national conversation after posting 14 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery against BYU, drawing endorsements from Patrick Mahomes and Robert Griffin III and public support from coach Joey McGuire.
- Despite the attention, Rodriguez remains a longshot in most rankings and markets, with historical precedent favoring offensive players and last year’s winner Travis Hunter being a two-way performer rather than a pure defender.