The Heisman Trophy chase has reached its electrifying peak, leaving college football enthusiasts buzzing with anticipation and ready to debate the year's standout performers!
With the regular season wrapped up and the College Football Playoff bracket firmly established (check out the official details at https://www.on3.com/news/college-football-playoff-final-official-2025-12-team-cfp-bracket/), all eyes now turn to the coveted Heisman Trophy. The big announcement ceremony is scheduled for December 13, and On3 has just released its definitive final Heisman Trophy poll to stir up the excitement.
As conference championships fade into the background, the top five player rankings have been unveiled. Four of these talented athletes will soon jet off to New York for the ceremony, where college football's most prestigious award will be handed out to the winner.
But here's where it gets controversial: The four finalists for the 2025 Heisman Trophy will be revealed on Monday, December 8. Opinions are already divided on who truly deserves the spotlight—does raw stats outweigh team success, or should individual brilliance shine brightest? On3's ultimate poll aims to shed light on that debate. Let's dive into the breakdown.
- Quarterback Diego Pavia from Vanderbilt
Weekend Stats: No action this round.
Diego Pavia (profile at https://www.on3.com/rivals/diego-pavia-36926/), the Vanderbilt Commodores' signal-caller (team site: https://www.on3.com/sites/the-dore-report/), claimed the top spot in On3's closing Heisman Trophy poll following the 2025 season. He demonstrated his versatility as a dual-threat quarterback all year, guiding Vanderbilt to a solid 10-2 record overall.
Pavia finished second in the nation with an impressive 4,018 total yards—boasting 3,192 through the air and 826 on the ground. He also crossed the goal line 36 times, with a SEC-best 27 touchdowns via passes. For beginners wondering why this matters, these numbers highlight how a QB can dominate both by throwing and running, making him a nightmare for defenses and a game-changer in tight contests.
- Quarterback Fernando Mendoza from Indiana
Weekend Stats: 15 completions out of 23 attempts, 222 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.
After switching teams from Cal (https://www.on3.com/sites/golden-bear-report/) during the offseason, Fernando Mendoza (https://www.on3.com/rivals/fernando-mendoza-43783/) played a pivotal role in leading Indiana (https://www.on3.com/teams/indiana-hoosiers/) to their first outright Big Ten championship since 1945. And this is the part most people miss: They clinched it by defeating Ohio State (https://www.on3.com/teams/ohio-state-buckeyes/) in Saturday's title showdown.
Mendoza earned the game's MVP honors, tossing 222 yards and a score while connecting with Charlie Becker (https://www.on3.com/rivals/charlie-becker-158268/) for the decisive first-down gain. Now, as the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, Mendoza and the Hoosiers are poised to extend their remarkable run—imagine the national spotlight on a Cinderella story that renews a program's glory!
- Running Back Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame
Weekend Stats: No action this round.
Jeremiyah Love (https://www.on3.com/rivals/jeremiyah-love-150027/) delivered a remarkable junior campaign for Notre Dame (https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/), securing the No. 3 position in On3's Heisman Trophy poll. He was instrumental in the Fighting Irish's offense, helping them achieve a 10-2 record and just barely miss a College Football Playoff berth.
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Love smashed personal records, carrying the ball 199 times for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also contributed in the passing game, catching 27 receptions for 280 yards and three more scores. This well-rounded performance underscores why versatile skill players like Love can elevate an entire team's strategy, blending power and agility in ways that keep fans on the edge of their seats.
- Quarterback Julian Sayin from Ohio State
Weekend Stats: 21 completions out of 29 attempts, 258 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.
Throughout the 2025 campaign, Julian Sayin (https://www.on3.com/rivals/julian-sayin-68682/) steered Ohio State's explosive offense as the Buckeyes compiled a 12-1 mark, propelling him into serious Heisman Trophy contention. He lands at No. 4 in On3's final poll.
Sayin had a mixed outing in the Big Ten Championship clash with Indiana (https://www.on3.com/teams/indiana-hoosiers/) but still managed 258 passing yards, a touchdown, and an interception. As the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff, he and Ohio State are gearing up for more action—raising debates about whether elite team success should overshadow individual highs and lows in awards like this.
- Quarterback Gunner Stockton from Georgia
Weekend Stats: 20 completions out of 26 attempts, 156 passing yards, 3 touchdowns | 13 rushes for 39 yards.
As Georgia (https://www.on3.com/teams/georgia-bulldogs/) powered toward their SEC title, Gunner Stockton (https://www.on3.com/rivals/gunner-stockton-47246/) led the charge with his arm and legs, completing On3's top-five Heisman Trophy poll for the 2025 season.
Stockton shone brightly in the SEC Championship against Alabama (https://www.on3.com/teams/alabama-crimson-tide/), hurling three touchdowns in UGA's dominant 28-7 win over the Crimson Tide. This victory not only boosted Georgia to a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff but also secured them the No. 3 seed—sparking discussions on whether a championship QB from a powerhouse program deserves more recognition than underdogs from unexpected success stories.
After a grueling 15-week regular season sprint, college football's main slate is complete. The focus now shifts to the College Football Playoff and bowl games, all following the Heisman Trophy ceremony on December 13 in New York.
What do you think—do these rankings capture the essence of the year's best player, or is there a sleeper star who got overlooked? Is team impact more crucial than individual stats in deciding the Heisman winner? Share your hot takes, agreements, or disagreements in the comments below—let's keep the conversation going!
