Does Anyone Want To Win The 2025 Heisman Trophy?
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Seriously, who wants to win the Heisman Trophy?
It’s a weird thing this Heisman. It’s supposed to go to the “most outstanding” player, but what if no one player is standing out more than anyone else?
None of the players on the list below are among the top 15 passers in total yards, and barely make the top 20. None are among the top five rushers, or top ten receivers.
As a pretentious Heisman voter, I always cast my ballot on a combination of the Most Outstanding Player with the Most Valuable Player, but it comes down to this – who is THE guy in a given college football season?
It’s a popularity contest. Travis Hunter had a great year, and he was the biggest star, so I get it – even though I voted Ashton Jeanty, Cam Skattebo, Shedeur Sanders.
When it comes to his season, though, good luck.
Ask ten different fans or media types who the Heisman front-runner should be, and you’ll get several different answers, even if it’s about the same guy.
So now, more than ever before, it’s going to come down to the final few weeks. Who takes their team up another notch in the College Football Playoff chase, and who will get the biggest moments in the biggest games to pull this off?
Forgetting my own beliefs and thoughts – like, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is actually the best player in the country – realistically, here are the ten players who appear to be in the mix.
Top Ten Heisman Trophy Contenders
10. Trinidad Chambliss, QB Ole Miss
Why he’ll win the Heisman
He’s been a blast of a baller who’s carrying Ole Miss to a whale of a season. He’s a great story, fun to watch, and he has decent stats, throwing for over 2,000 yards with ten touchdowns and two picks, with 435 yards and six touchdowns.
Why he won’t win the Heisman
The stats aren’t good enough compared to the other top quarterbacks, and Lane Kiffin is the star of the Ole Miss show.
Most important showcase game
Florida, November 15th
The Heisman finish will be …
Top Ten, but no higher than eighth
9. Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech
Why he’ll win the Heisman
In an MVP sort of way, he’s it. He’s been the heart and soul of a Georgia Tech team with a great shot at getting to the CFP. The 14 rushing touchdowns and 754 yards on the ground – with nine touchdown passes and two picks – are just part of his story.
Why he won’t win the Heisman
The loss to NC State hurt, and Georgia Tech might not be in the ACC Championship – the spotlight of the conference title will matter this year.
Most important showcase game
Georgia. November 28
The Heisman finish will be …
It’ll come down to the Georgia game. If he’s amazing and he carries the Yellow Jackets to a win, then he’s a finalist. But more likely, he’ll finish just outside of the top five.
8. Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia
Why he’ll win the Heisman
The buzz is just starting. He’s hitting 70% of his passes with 12 touchdowns, and he ran for seven scores. He was great in the showcase wins over Ole Miss and Tennessee.
Why he won’t win the Heisman
It’s hard for Georgia quarterbacks to get a ton of Heisman respect. The star power isn’t there compared to other top quarterbacks.
Most important showcase game
Texas, November 15, and possibly the SEC Championship
The Heisman finish will be …
If Georgia wins the SEC Championship, top five. If it doesn’t, then somewhere in the lower half of the top ten.
7. Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M
Why he’ll win the Heisman
There’s a shot he’s the quarterback of the No. 2 team in the CFP, and the SEC Champion. He was wonderful against Notre Dame when everyone was watching, and he has several chances to show off down the stretch.
Why he won’t win the Heisman
The numbers are fine, but they’re not amazing compared to the rest of the Heisman field. As good as he is, he’s not a household star who grabbed the season by the horns – yet.
Most important showcase game
At Texas, November 28, and possibly the SEC Championship
The Heisman finish will be …
Just outside of the top five, unless he lights up the Longhorns and is amazing in the SEC Championship.
6. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Why he’ll win the Heisman
If he’s not the best player in college football, he’s 1B or 1C. He’s one of those guys who makes something happen whenever the ball is in his hands.
Why he won’t win the Heisman
The numbers are great – 14 total touchdowns, 23 catches, 894 rushing yards – but they’re not legendary. Worse yet, even for Notre Dame, there aren’t any massive-moment games left.
Most important showcase game
At Pitt, November 15
The Heisman finish will be …
Outside of the top five. He’ll get a few No. 3 spots, but not enough to make an impact.
5. Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt
Why he’ll win the Heisman
In a Most Valuable Player way, who beats 2? A blast of a baller’s baller, he’s the most exciting quarterback in the game right now.
Why he won’t win the Heisman
The overall stats aren’t quite there – he’s Diego Manziel with his electricity, but he doesn’t have Mr. Football’s numbers.
Most important showcase game
At Tennessee, November 29
The Heisman finish will be …
It’s all about that Tennessee game. If he goes nuts and the Commodores beat the Vols to go 10-2, he’ll be right there in the mix for the thing. But he’ll likely hover around finalist territory – he’ll be No. 3 on a ton of ballots.
4. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Why he’ll win the Heisman
He’s got that Best Player Vibe thing going. Everyone knows who he is, he’s always doing something to make the highlights, and …
Why he won’t win the Heisman
Everyone forgets, he was fantastic in the regular season last year, but he didn’t blow up until the CFP – he had just three 100-yard games and, even with a score, was held in relative check by Michigan.
Most important showcase game
At Michigan, November 29, and almost certainly the Big Ten Championship
The Heisman finish will be …
It all depends on those two games. If he lights up the Wolverines and – almost certainly – the Hoosiers, he might be no worse than No. 2. If he’s just okay, he’ll be in the top five.
3. Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State
Why he’ll win the Heisman
Absolutely wonderful so far, he’s hitting 81% of his passes for close to 2,200 yards and 23 touchdowns and just three picks, but …
Why he won’t win the Heisman
There aren’t any real rushing yards, he hasn’t had a big Heisman moment, and he’s throwing to future superstar NFL receivers and has the best defense in America to back him up.
Most important showcase game
At Michigan, November 29, and almost certainly the Big Ten Championship
The Heisman finish will be …
If Ohio State is the CFP No. 1 as the 13-0 Big Ten Champion, he’ll be in the top three, but (at least in terms of the Heisman, not talent) he might be Julian Torretta – like 1992 quarterback Gino Torretta, he’s the conductor of the No. 1 team in the land.
2. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Why he’ll win the Heisman
What more could you want? The Indiana quarterback is hitting 72% of his throws for over 2,100 yards with 25 touchdowns and four picks. He runs just enough to get by.
He’ll also start to benefit more from the Best Player buzz as the possible No. 1 overall pick in the next draft.
Why he won’t win the Heisman
If he’s not amazing against Ohio State in the likely Big Ten Championship showdown, it’s not happening. He has to be lights out over the next three games to get there.
Most important showcase game
At Penn State, November 8, and almost certainly the Big Ten Championship
The Heisman finish will be …
If he’s amazing over the next three, likely four games, and Indiana is a 13-0 CFP No. 1, then he either wins it or comes really, really close. Most likely, he’s top three, definitely top five.
1. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Why he’ll win the Heisman
He’s got everything going his way. He’s got the hot team, the big games, and the stats, hitting 68% of his passes for close to 2,200 yards with 20 touchdowns and just one lonely pick, to go along with two touchdowns.
Great against Tennessee, better against Georgia, and steady throughout, he’s the right guy to run the Kalen DeBoer offense.
Why he won’t win the Heisman
If there’s any blip, any loss, or one bad game, that might be it, because everyone will be watching every game but Eastern Illinois the rest of the way.
Most important showcase game
Oklahoma, November 15, but LSU this week and the Auburn game on Thanksgiving weekend will matter, but it’ll all come down to the SEC Championship.
The Heisman finish will be …
If he lights it up over the next month, and Alabama goes 12-1 with an SEC Championship, it’ll take something amazing to knock him out of the win. Anything less, though, and he’ll be third.
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This story was originally reported by College Football News on Nov 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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