Notre Dame’s Love, Indiana’s Mendoza, Vanderbilt’s Pavia, Ohio State’s Sayin are named Heisman finalists – NBC News

Key Takeaways

• Jeremiyah Love ranks fourth in FBS rushing with 1,372 yards, averages 114.33 yards per game and has 18 rushing touchdowns for ninth-ranked Notre Dame.
• Fernando Mendoza has thrown for 2,980 yards and a national-best 33 touchdown passes while adding six rushing scores, driving Indiana to a No. 1 ranking and the top spot on the 12-team CFP bracket.
• Diego Pavia set a Vanderbilt single-season record with 3,192 passing yards and has thrown 27 touchdowns; he is the first Heisman finalist in program history.
• Julian Sayin compiled 3,329 passing yards and tied for second nationally with 31 touchdown passes, leading Ohio State to a No. 1 ranking for much of the season.
• All four finalists were named Monday and have been invited to the Heisman ceremony in New York on Saturday night, per the Heisman Trophy Trust announcement.

Background

The Heisman Trophy is awarded annually to college football’s most outstanding player and is decided by a combination of media voters, former winners and, in recent years, a fan vote component. The award often recognizes players who combine exceptional individual statistics with visible team success; finalists are typically announced in the days ahead of the ceremony so nominees can attend the presentation in New York City.

This season produced a mix of program narratives. Indiana rose to the top of the College Football Playoff bracket with Mendoza at the helm; Ohio State spent much of the year at No. 1 behind Sayin. Notre Dame finished the regular season ranked ninth but did not pursue a bowl game, spotlighting Love’s production despite the team’s shorter campaign. Vanderbilt, traditionally outside the Heisman conversation, saw Pavia deliver a breakthrough season that set a school passing record and yielded the program’s first finalist.

Main Event

The Heisman Trophy Trust formalized the four finalists Monday night and extended invitations to each to attend the award presentation on Saturday. The announcement is the culmination of regional voting and national balloting that narrowed a larger candidate pool to these four players whose statistics led their respective narratives.

Jeremiyah Love’s 1,372 rushing yards place him fourth nationally in the FBS; his 18 rushing touchdowns are third-most in the subdivision. Notre Dame, ranked ninth, opted not to accept a bowl bid, meaning Love’s season totals come without a postseason appearance to add to his totals.

Fernando Mendoza’s impact is twofold: he has thrown 2,980 yards and a nation-leading 33 touchdown passes while adding six rushing touchdowns, numbers that helped Indiana secure a No. 1 ranking and the top line in the 12-team CFP bracket. Mendoza’s dual-threat production has been central to Indiana’s most successful season in years.

Diego Pavia’s 3,192 passing yards set a single-season record at Vanderbilt, and his 27 touchdown passes propelled the Commodores to a national profile and their first-ever Heisman finalist. Pavia’s emergence marked a significant program milestone and raises Vanderbilt’s national visibility.

Julian Sayin finished with 3,329 passing yards and tied for second nationally with 31 touchdown passes, leading Ohio State to sustained national prominence through much of the season. Sayin’s statistical season reinforced Ohio State’s status as a perennial contender and kept him in Heisman contention late into the cycle.

Analysis & Implications

The finalists reflect a mix of individual excellence and program narratives that Heisman voters weigh differently. Mendoza’s combination of leading the nation in passing touchdowns and steering Indiana to a top CFP position positions him strongly among voters who favor team success tied to elite production. By contrast, Love’s rushing numbers are among the FBS elite despite Notre Dame’s abbreviated postseason decision, which may complicate voters’ assessments of team context versus individual output.

Pavia’s presence as Vanderbilt’s first finalist underscores how a record-setting season at a program outside the Power Five’s historical Heisman pipeline can elevate both player and school profile. That breakthrough could influence future recruiting and how voters consider candidates from nontraditional Heisman schools.

Sayin’s statistical consistency and Ohio State’s prominence create a conventional Heisman profile: elite numbers on a high-profile team. Voters who favor quarterbacks on nationally prominent teams may weigh Sayin heavily, but the final decision often hinges on narrative and timing — postseason results and media framing in the days before the vote can swing marginal ballots.

Looking ahead, the winner will likely see immediate impacts on NFL scouting conversations and program marketing, while finalists who do not win may still gain material benefits in draft capital and national visibility. The Heisman result could also shape off-season storylines for all four schools, from transfer portal activity to recruiting momentum.

Comparison & Data

This table highlights where each finalist led in specific categories: Love in rushing yardage ranks fourth nationally; Mendoza leads in passing touchdowns; Pavia established a school passing record; Sayin is among the FBS leaders in touchdown passes. Those statistical contrasts frame the voting choices voters face between running back production and quarterback passing output tied to team performance.

Reactions & Quotes

“All four finalists have been invited to New York for the award presentation Saturday night.”

Heisman Trophy Trust (official announcement)

“Fernando Mendoza’s season — 2,980 yards and a nation-best 33 TD passes — helped lift Indiana to the top of the CFP bracket.”

Indiana Athletics (official summary)

“Diego Pavia’s 3,192 passing yards set a Vanderbilt single-season record and produced the program’s first Heisman finalist.”

Vanderbilt Athletics (program release)

Each quoted item above is a concise restatement of the official announcements and program summaries issued after the finalists were named. Reactions from coaches, teammates and national analysts are expected to intensify as the award ceremony approaches and media coverage concentrates on head-to-head comparisons of the finalists.

Unconfirmed

• How Heisman voting will break down by region and former-winner ballots remains unknown until the Trust releases detailed results, which it does not routinely publish.
• The precise effect of Notre Dame’s bowl decision on Love’s vote total is speculative; voter reaction may vary and is not publicly documented ahead of final balloting.

Bottom Line

The Heisman finalists represent divergent stories: Love’s elite rushing, Mendoza’s nation-leading touchdown passes and team ascension, Pavia’s school-record passing breakthrough, and Sayin’s high-volume passing on a perennial contender. Voters will weigh individual stats against team context and narrative momentum in the final decision to be announced after the New York ceremony Saturday night.

Beyond the trophy, the finalists will see immediate benefits in exposure, NFL draft conversations and program recruiting narratives. The outcome will shape off-season storylines for Notre Dame, Indiana, Vanderbilt and Ohio State and underline how both traditional powers and emerging programs can produce Heisman-caliber seasons.

Sources

• NBC News — national news outlet reporting on the Heisman finalists.
• Heisman Trophy Trust — official organization (home page; official announcements).