### Heisman Trophy Finalists Announced: A Historic Year for College Football The Heisman Trophy Trust has revealed the finalists for the prestigious award, which honors the top player in college football. This year's finalists include: - **Jeremiyah Love** (Notre Dame, RB) - **Fernando Mendoza** (Indiana, QB) - **Diego Pavia** (Vanderbilt, QB) - **Julian Sayin** (Ohio State, QB) These players have demonstrated exceptional performance throughout the season, with Mendoza and Sayin leading their teams to the top two spots in the College Football Playoff rankings. The award ceremony is set to take place in New York on December 13, 2025, where the winner will be announced [https://apnews.com/article/heisman-finalists-love-mendoza-pavia-sayin-e74bc50a5e0ed3b8187f634d4654dcb4]. ### Breakdown of Heisman Finalists and Their Achievements 1. **Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)** - Position: Running Back - Key Stats: 1,372 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns - Team Performance: Notre Dame finished the season ranked ninth but did not qualify for a bowl game [https://thescore.com/ncaaf/news/3422754/mendoza-sayin-among-finalists-for-heisman-trophy]. 2. **Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)** - Position: Quarterback - Key Stats: 2,980 passing yards, 33 touchdown passes (national leader), 6 rushing touchdowns - Team Performance: Led Indiana to a perfect 13-0 record and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff [https://www.wlky.com/article/2025-heisman-finalists-revealed-trophy-indiana-louisville/69665933]. 3. **Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt)** - Position: Quarterback - Key Stats: 3,192 passing yards, 27 touchdown passes - Team Performance: First Heisman finalist in Vanderbilt history, contributing to a strong season for the Commodores [https://www.wsmv.com/2025/12/08/vanderbilts-diego-pavia-named-heisman-trophy-finalist]. 4. **Julian Sayin (Ohio State)** - Position: Quarterback - Key Stats: 3,329 passing yards, 31 touchdown passes - Team Performance: Helped Ohio State achieve a 12-1 record and a No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoffs [https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/08/heisman-trophy-finalists-2025-fernando-mendoza-diego-pavia-college-football/87677690007]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Performance Metrics**: - **Jeremiyah Love**: 1,372 rushing yards (4th in Bowl Subdivision), 18 rushing touchdowns (3rd overall) [https://www.thescore.com/ncaaf/news/3422754/mendoza-sayin-among-finalists-for-heisman-trophy]. - **Fernando Mendoza**: 33 touchdown passes (national best), leading Indiana to its first No. 1 ranking [https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/us-sports/diego-pavia-or-jeremiyah-love-odds-whos-the-favorite-to-win-heisman-trophy-2025-list-of-winners-101765238639381.html]. - **Diego Pavia**: Set a school record with 3,192 passing yards [https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2025/12/08/mendoza-pavia-love-sayin-named-heisman-trophy-finalists]. - **Julian Sayin**: Tied for second in the country with 31 touchdown passes [https://www.wthr.com/article/sports/local-sports/fernando-mendoza-jeremiyah-love-named-finalists-for-heisman-trophy/531-868fc18b-6e2a-45bb-a0cf-a7daff039e67]. ### Conclusion: A Competitive Heisman Race The 2025 Heisman Trophy finalists represent a diverse group of talent from across the nation, each with compelling cases for the award. 1. **Jeremiyah Love** has showcased his skills as a top running back despite his team's absence from bowl games. 2. **Fernando Mendoza** stands out as a favorite, leading Indiana to an undefeated season and a historic ranking. 3. **Diego Pavia** has made history for Vanderbilt, while **Julian Sayin** has been instrumental in Ohio State's success. The upcoming ceremony promises to be a thrilling conclusion to a remarkable college football season, with the winner set to be announced on December 13, 2025 [https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/us-sports/diego-pavia-or-jeremiyah-love-odds-whos-the-favorite-to-win-heisman-trophy-2025-list-of-winners-101765238639381.html].