Overview
- Sportsbooks give Fernando Mendoza roughly a greater-than-50% implied probability to win, with prices around -105 to -130 even after his bye.
- Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love vaulted from about +4000 to as short as +375 at BetMGM after an 8-carry, 171-yard, two-touchdown day against Syracuse, making him the second choice and a notable book liability.
- Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia climbed to around +600 following a career-best 484 passing yards with six total touchdowns versus Kentucky, drawing fresh media attention including praise from Shannon Sharpe.
- An On3 national analysts’ straw poll has Mendoza first, Pavia second and Love third, while Ohio State’s Julian Sayin has slipped following back-to-back modest yardage games despite wins.
- The race now swings on final regular-season games that shape closing impressions: Indiana at Purdue, Notre Dame at Stanford, Ohio State at Michigan, and Vanderbilt at Tennessee, before ballots are cast and the Dec. 13 ceremony.