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Heisman Trophy Odds: Will Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza Enjoy Drama-Free Ceremony?

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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Heisman Trophy Odds: Will Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza Enjoy Drama-Free Ceremony?

The 2025 Heisman Trophy will be presented Saturday night.  

Will there be a surprise? 

Not likely. 

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza enters the annual ceremony as the sports-betting favorite to be crowned as college football’s top performer. 

Also on hand in New York on Saturday will be Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (+425), Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (+12500) and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (+5000). 

While the event likely will be drama-free, here is a look at the four finalists:

Indiana Quarterback Fernando Mendoza 

The Hoosiers program is likely to have a Heisman winner in its ranks finally. After Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter broke the three-year run of quarterbacks hoisting the trophy, Mendoza may start a new streak. After delivering the program’s Big Ten title since 1967, Mendoza’s 2,980 passing yards and 33 touchdowns may not generally be Heisman-worthy, but in this class, they should be enough.  

For uplifting a long-suffering Indiana team, Mendoza certainly remains the sentimental favorite.

Vanderbilt Quarterback Diego Pavia  

A player from the Commadores’ program also has yet to hoist a Heisman. The wait will continue. Despite averaging 455.8 total yards of offense and coming up big late in the season, posting 16 touchdowns over his final four starts. In the season-finale versus the Tennessee Volunteers, Pavia rushed for 165 yards as the Commodores beat their in-state rival for the first time since 2018. It won’t be enough to supplant Mendoza, though.

Notre Dame Running Back Jeremiyah Love 

Love may be the first running back selected during next April’s NFL Draft, but since the Fighting Irish decided to sit out the bowl season, let’s do the same with Love’s candidacy.  

Ohio State Quarterback Julian Sayin 

The first-year starter earned late-season momentum with a win over Michigan. Then Sayin led the Buckeyes against Mendoza and the Hoosiers in Indianapolis. Just Sayin, he’ll be a top preseason candidate to win the 2026 Heisman Trophy.

Heisman Trophy Odds

Here is a Week 16 look at the 2025 Heisman Trophy odds, according to BetOnline Sportsbook:

Player  2025 Heisman Trophy Odds
Fernando Mendoza -1000
Diego Pavia +425
Jeremiyah Love +12500
 Julian Sayin +50000

*-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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