Marquette, MI – December 12th, 2025 – This weekend, the Heisman Trophy will welcome its newest member. Last season, Colorado star Travis Hunter made history as the first defensive player since Charles Woodson in 1997 to win the award. Hunter played an incredible 1,356 snaps on both sides of the ball before being selected second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This year’s finalists feature three quarterbacks and one running back. Jeremiah Love, a running back from Notre Dame, rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s standout quarterback, threw for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns while leading the Hoosiers to an undefeated Big Ten Championship and the #1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff (CFP).
Diego Pavia, quarterback for Vanderbilt, passed for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns, guiding the Commodores to a 6–1 start – their best opening stretch in more than six decades. Rounding out the list is Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, who recorded 3,323 passing yards and 31 touchdowns while leading the Buckeyes to the No. 2 seed in the CFP.
The Heisman ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at 7:00 p.m. live from the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room in New York City. Chris Fowler will host the event, which will air on ESPN and, for the first time ever, on ABC as well.
