Picture this: The Heisman Trophy isn't just a crowning glory for a handful of elite quarterbacks—it's a thrilling, wide-open race where underdogs and surprise performers could steal the spotlight. And this is the part most people miss: As the season barrels toward its climax, we're not narrowing down the contenders; we're expanding the horizons to include a broader cast of college football heroes. Why settle for the obvious when unexpected twists could redefine the narrative? Dive in with us as we explore a comprehensive lineup of hopefuls, ranked roughly in order of my top 10 picks, complete with their standout achievements, team triumphs, and the potential hurdles they face. But here's where it gets controversial—could a linebacker or running back shatter long-standing traditions and claim the award? Let's unpack it all, keeping things accessible for newcomers while adding some insider context to make the stats pop.
First up, let's turn our attention to Fernando Mendoza (11), the dynamic quarterback steering Indiana. His performance metrics are nothing short of spectacular: He claims the runner-up spot nationally for pass efficiency, with a stellar rating of 178.55. What really stands out is how that figure skyrockets to an astonishing 226.57 on third-and-long situations—plays requiring at least seven yards. Mendoza also shares the top spot in touchdown passes with 26, and he leads the pack in overall touchdowns, blending his throwing prowess with rushing exploits to total 31. For those just getting into football jargon, pass efficiency basically measures how effectively a QB completes passes for yards and scores while minimizing mistakes—think of it as a quarterback's report card for smart, productive plays.
In high-stakes Big Ten road contests, Mendoza faced setbacks like fourth-quarter interceptions against Iowa, Oregon, and Penn State, but he rebounded brilliantly each time with a touchdown throw that swung the momentum and secured the win for Indiana. His pinnacle moment came during an 80-yard touchdown march against Penn State, where he connected on five passes across the field, culminating in a dramatic catch by Omar Cooper Jr.—often hailed as the Catch of the Year—that defied gravity and seemed destined for the sidelines.
On the team front, Indiana's record is flawless at 10-0, perched at No. 2 in the national rankings—the program's loftiest standing ever. Yet, there's a catch: Mendoza's heroics in State College, Pennsylvania, hinged on Cooper's extraordinary grab, reminding us that no player is an island in this team sport.
Next, Julian Sayin (12), Ohio State's sophomore quarterback, brings fresh energy to the field. As a rookie on the big stage, he dominates with the nation's highest efficiency rating at 192.60—outpacing Mendoza by a full 14 points—and tops the charts in total offense yards per play at 9.10. His completion percentage of 80.9% is poised to eclipse the NCAA record of 77.4% set by Mac Jones in 2020, and it climbs even higher to 81.7% in conference action. To put this in perspective, completion percentage tracks how often a QB successfully delivers the ball to a receiver, a key indicator of precision and decision-making under pressure.
Before a late interception against Purdue last Saturday, Sayin had fired off 181 Big Ten passes without a turnover, showcasing remarkable poise. He's also on a hot streak of three consecutive outings with over 300 passing yards and accuracy exceeding 80%.
Ohio State, under his guidance, remains undefeated at 9-0 and claims the No. 1 spot nationally, never falling behind after halftime. But here's the flip side: Sayin might not even be the standout on his own squad. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, for instance, ranks sixth in receptions, fifth in receiving yards per game, and is tied for second in touchdown receptions, earning Ohio State a Heisman push for him too. Plus, the Buckeyes boast the country's top defense, shielding Sayin from the nail-biting comebacks Mendoza has endured. This raises an intriguing point: Does individual brilliance shine brighter than team dynamics in Heisman voting?
Shifting gears to Diego Pavia (13), Vanderbilt's quarterback, who shoulders an immense load for his team. No one else carries as much weight—his 390 combined rushing and passing plays rank third among power-conference QBs, and he's the leader among those averaging over seven yards per play. Pavia accounts for a whopping 54.9% of Vanderbilt's touchdowns and 40.9% of its total yardage, illustrating his dual-threat dominance.
He's fourth in national pass efficiency at 166.76, hitting personal bests in passing yards (365 against Texas, 377 against Auburn) and total offense (408 yards versus the Longhorns, 489 against the Tigers). For beginners, total offense combines passing and rushing yards to gauge a player's overall impact on the scoreboard.
Vanderbilt thrives under him, posting an 8-2 record this year and a 15-8 mark during his tenure as starter—compared to a dismal 6-17 in the 23 games prior. His influence is arguably his biggest strength, outshining peers on lesser-ranked teams. That said, if the Commodores stumble in their final two games—entirely plausible—they might fade from view, diminishing Pavia's spotlight.
Now, Jacob Rodriguez (14), Texas Tech's linebacker, introduces a fresh angle to the conversation. He leads the nation in forced fumbles with seven, anchoring a defense that's third in takeaways at 23. Rodriguez has snagged three of the team's 11 interceptions, including a key one in their victory over BYU last Saturday, and he even scored on a 69-yard fumble return against Oklahoma State. To round it out, he's tied for eighth in solo tackles with 49.
His journey is inspiring: After walking on as a quarterback at Virginia, he transitioned to a versatile role there with 121 yards rushing and receiving, then committed fully to Texas Tech's defense in his third year.
Texas Tech soars at 9-1 and No. 8 nationally—their highest perch in 17 years—primed for a potential College Football Playoff debut. But here's where it gets controversial: Has a linebacker ever won the Heisman? The answer is no, and Rodriguez might even share the spotlight with teammate David Bailey, the nation's sack leader at 11.5, who plays the same side of the ball.
Jeremiyah Love (15), Notre Dame's running back, epitomizes explosive potential. He ties for the national lead in touchdowns with 16 across nine games—13 rushing and three receiving—and ranks third in yards from scrimmage per game at 138. He's the sole player with 150-plus rushes and receptions averaging seven yards per touch.
Love is college football's ultimate big-play threat, boasting a 94-yard touchdown dash this season and a 98-yarder last year, marking him as the first Notre Dame player with two 90-plus-yard scoring runs. Yards from scrimmage simply adds rushing and receiving yards to measure a player's total contribution on offense.
Notre Dame stands at 7-2 and No. 9 nationally. However, running backs face steep odds in modern Heisman races—the last one to triumph was Derrick Henry in 2015. Love also splits time with Jadarian Price, limiting his touches to under 20 in six of nine games. Plus, Notre Dame's season ends November 29, giving rivals extra chances to impress voters.
Haynes King (16), Georgia Tech's quarterback, excels in versatility. He ranks third nationally in total offense at 330.3 yards per game, with 754 rushing yards—the most for any non-service academy QB despite a game missed to injury—and 14 rushing touchdowns, second-highest overall. King has turned 41 third downs into first downs via runs or passes, boasting a 50.6% conversion rate.
Georgia Tech boasts an 8-1 record and No. 14 ranking, peaking at No. 7 earlier—a high not seen since 2009. They're still vying for the ACC championship. Yet, King's passing game lags, putting him behind other QBs statistically. And this is the part most people miss: With two winnable games left—against Pittsburgh on November 22 and Georgia on November 29—a couple of losses could erase their momentum, though strong showings could propel King into the Heisman conversation.
Ty Simpson (17), Alabama's quarterback, shines in reliability. He owns the lowest interception rate among power-conference QBs with 200-plus attempts, tossing just one in 296 passes (which doubled as an effective punt on fourth down against Vanderbilt). He's third in SEC pass efficiency and leads a team tied for third in fewest turnovers at six.
Alabama cruises at 8-1 and No. 4 nationally, on pace for the SEC title and playoff. But the bar is sky-high for Crimson Tide quarterbacks—every starter from 2018 to 2023 hit at least 163 efficiency, while Simpson sits at 159 after some average outings versus South Carolina and LSU. Lately, their defense has stolen the show, overshadowing the offense.
Dante Moore (18), Oregon's quarterback, delivers steady excellence. He's seventh in efficiency at 164.72, ninth in completion percentage at 70.5, and 20th in yards per play at 7.69, helping the Ducks rank sixth in team yards per play at 7.28.
Moore struggled in recent games until a pivotal 54-yard drive in a downpour against Iowa, trailing 16-15, where he connected on 5 of 7 passes, including a pinpoint 24-yard throw to Malik Benson for the game-winning field goal.
Oregon holds an 8-1 record and No. 7 ranking, playoff-bound and eyeing a home first-rounder. Still, Moore's stats don't dazzle like Sayin's, he was outdueled by Mendoza earlier, and he's no dual-threat runner like Pavia or King.
Byrum Brown (19), South Florida's quarterback, brings mobility and production. He's fifth in total offense at 323.1 yards per game, with 705 rushing yards for a QB, trailing only King. Brown has racked up five straight games with 325-plus total offense and six with at least three touchdowns combined.
South Florida is 8-2 and No. 25, chasing the American Conference crown and a CFP spot—their finest campaign since 2017. However, non-power conference players rarely win the Heisman; the last was BYU's Ty Detmer in 1990 (when BYU was in the WAC).
Finally, Emmett Johnson (20), Nebraska's running back, embodies durability. He's the only power-conference back surpassing Love's yards from scrimmage output, averaging 143.1 per game. Last Saturday against UCLA, he exploded for 232 yards and three touchdowns, carrying the load without star QB Dylan Raiola. Johnson is a classic workhorse, handling 23.9 touches per game.
Nebraska sits at 7-3, their best regular-season wins since 2016. But playoff irrelevance and the running back stigma make it tough, especially with just two games left to make an impact.
Looking ahead, watch for these players to potentially burst onto the scene in the final weeks: Texas A&M's edge rusher Cashius Howell, Mississippi's quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, USC's receiver Makai Lemon (or QB Jayden Maiava), Georgia's QB Gunner Stockton, and Michigan's running back Justice Haynes.
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What do you think—should the Heisman evolve to recognize positions beyond quarterbacks, like a linebacker or running back? Or does the award's history tie it forever to QBs? Is team success more crucial than individual stats in voting? Weigh in below and let's debate!
