By Darin On the evening of December 13, 2025, the Downtown Athletic Club in New York hosted its annual event to select the top player in the 2025 college football season. ESPM aired the event and packed a stage with former Heisman winners, including Billy Sims, Doug Flutie, Tony Dorsett, Gary Beban, Archie Griffin, Eddie George, George Rogers, Steve Spurrier, Tim Tebow, and countless others, to celebrate the announcement of the next statue winner.
The four candidates present: Ohio State QB Julian Sayin, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, and Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia. Only one would claim the trophy.
Player Breakdowns
2025 College Football Player Breakdowns
Here is an analytical breakdown of the projected 2025 season for four key players, based on their team situations, depth-chart movement, and individual performance potential.
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State Buckeyes
Sayin successfully secured the high-stakes QB1 starting role for the Buckeyes, earning the most significant accomplishment of his young career. His 2025 season was a breakthrough year, instantly placing him in the Heisman Trophy conversation due to his high-level performance and command of the elite offense.
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Love (referred to in the Canvas as the expected player, Jeremiyah, despite the “Julie Love” query) delivered on his promise to be a feature back for the Fighting Irish. He surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark and established himself as one of the nation’s best dual-threat running backs, playing a crucial, dynamic role in Notre Dame’s successful bid for a College Football Playoff spot.
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Hoosiers
Mendoza achieved stability and elevation for the Indiana program under the new coaching staff. He successfully minimized turnovers and maintained a strong command of the offense, resulting in the major accomplishment of guiding the Hoosiers to bowl eligibility. He firmly established himself as a reliable starting quarterback within the Power Four conference.
Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt Commodores
Pavia took on the high responsibility of leading the Vanderbilt offense as the undisputed leader. He successfully transitioned his dynamic, dual-threat play style to the rigorous SEC, keeping games competitive and engineering key upsets amid a difficult schedule. His experience proved vital in elevating the team’s overall performance.
The 2025 Heisman Winner
Fernando Mendoza’s historic 2025 Heisman Trophy win was the ultimate culmination of narrative and statistics, defying his preseason outlook and long odds. Transferring to a rebuilding Indiana program under a new coaching staff, Mendoza transformed the Hoosiers from Big Ten cellar-dwellers into bona fide contenders. His core success, as predicted in the outlook, lay in maximizing stability and virtually eliminating costly turnovers, showcasing an elite-level command of the offense rarely seen in Bloomington.
Crucially, the Heisman came down to elevating the entire program. Mendoza didn’t just achieve bowl eligibility; he led the Hoosiers to multiple signature upsets against highly-ranked conference rivals, propelling Indiana into the national top 15 by November. This remarkable turnaround, combined with his statistical profile—exceptional passing efficiency and clutch playmaking—provided the perfect Heisman formula. Mendoza’s story of perseverance and, ultimately, leading the greatest single-season turnaround in college football, solidified his status as the most outstanding player in the nation.
