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Heisman Trophy Odds: 2 Favorites – Julian Sayin, Fernando Mendoza – Have 1 More Showcase Opportunity

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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Heisman Trophy Odds: 2 Favorites – Julian Sayin, Fernando Mendoza – Have 1 More Showcase Opportunity

Overlooking one of the weakest fields – ever – the top four 2025 Heisman Trophy candidates have one additional opportunity to make a final statement.  

Well, two of them, anyway.  

Entering college football’s championship weekend, BetOnline Sportsbook tabbed Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (+160) as the new sports-betting favorite to earn the top national player of the year honor. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (+165) and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (+170) also received heavy interest. 

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love remains a long shot at +4000. 

Last week, Pavia was tabbed with +1200 odds and made a big jump in the current listing, while Mendoza, who was the favorite at -130, dropped two spots. 

Here is a look at the top four candidates: 

  • Pavia: Who enjoyed a better overall season? The uber-athletic quarterback led the Commadores to their first 10-win season in 122 years. Could his absence on championship Saturday dent his chances? 
  • Sayin: Overcoming a first-quarter interception at Michigan, Sayin led the Buckeyes past their rival for the first time since 2019. He was calm, efficient and executed the big throws. The first-year starter has another chance to prove himself during Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game, but will too many voters view him as a beneficiary to the talent around him?  
  • Mendoza: Is he in line to deliver a rare conference championship for the Hoosiers’ program, which last claimed a title in 1967? His signature moment came during the late touchdown throw against Penn State. With 2,758 passing yards, has he produced enough to garner enough votes?  
  • Love: One of college football’s most explosive runners, Love compiled 1,372 regular-season rushing yards and continues proving to be a top NFL talent. His candidacy took a hit, however, when he gained 33 yards during the Miami defeat.

2025 Heisman Trophy Odds

Here is a Week 15 look at the 2025 Heisman Trophy odds, according to BetOnline Sportsbook:

Player  2025 Heisman Trophy Odds
Diego Pavia +160
Julian Sayin +165
Fernando Mendoza +170
Jeremiyah Love +4000

*-Odds current at time of publication

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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