Championship Saturday has been eventful, and the Heisman Trophy, awarded each year to the most outstanding player in college football, is in the spotlight as contenders showcase their skills before the final ballots are submitted early next week.
With a shortened 48-hour voting window and ballots opening during the championship games, every play in the conference finals now plays a crucial role in deciding who will be invited to New York and who ultimately wins the most elite individual award in college football.
Heisman favorites on Championship Saturday
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Narrow betting favorite or co-favorite at major sportsbooks, with odds in the roughly +150 to +175 range depending on the book.
Enters the Big Ten title game unbeaten with Indiana and has been framed as the slight leader going into the weekend.
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State
Effectively tied with Mendoza in implied odds at several books, also around +150 to +200.
The Big Ten Championship vs. Indiana is widely described as a de facto Heisman decider between Sayin and Mendoza.
Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt
Listed just behind or even with the top duo at many spots, generally in the +175 to +400 range, depending on when the odds were posted.
Surged into the top tier after a big late-season run and is consistently cited as the third name in the race.
Leading long-shot names still on the board
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame – very distant odds but still on most lists of remaining contenders.
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State – star wideout with very long odds as QBs dominate the market.
Gunner Stockton (Georgia), Ty Simpson (Alabama), Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech) – listed by books but with exceptionally long prices at this point.
How does voting for the Heisman work?
Heisman Trophy voting is conducted by a panel of media members across the country, by living former Heisman winners, and by an aggregated fan vote.
Around 870 sports journalists are selected and distributed across six geographic regions, with state reps assigning ballots to ensure a broad, informed cross-section of college football media. In addition, every living Heisman Trophy winner receives a ballot and can vote like any other elector, including for himself if still active. Lastly, a national fan vote, conducted through the Heisman’s official fan program, counts as a single ballot in the final tabulation.
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