NEW YORK – Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin have been selected as this year’s Heisman Trophy finalists, representing one of the most diverse and statistically dominant groups in recent seasons. The four standout players will travel to New York for Saturday night’s ceremony, where the prestigious award will be presented. Each finalist reached this stage after delivering exceptional performances that not only elevated their programs but also reshaped their teams’ postseason trajectories.
Love powered Notre Dame’s offense with a relentless ground game, finishing the regular season with 1,372 rushing yards, ranking fourth nationally. His per-game average of 114.33 yards placed him among the country’s most reliable running threats, and his 18 rushing touchdowns marked the third-highest total in the Bowl Subdivision. Despite the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish narrowly missing a College Football Playoff berth and choosing to decline a bowl invitation, Love’s season stood out as one of the most consistent and explosive performances by a running back this year.
Mendoza produced a historic season for Indiana, guiding the Hoosiers to their first-ever No. 1 ranking and securing the top seed in the expanded 12-team playoff format. With 2,980 passing yards and a national-leading 33 touchdown passes, Mendoza became the driving force behind Indiana’s rise to national prominence, adding six rushing scores to further boost the offense. His selection makes him only the second Heisman finalist in program history, joining Anthony Thompson, who finished as the runner-up in 1989. This year also marks the first time Indiana has produced back-to-back top-10 Heisman finishes, following Kurtis Rourke’s ninth-place performance a year ago.
Pavia delivered a record-breaking campaign for Vanderbilt, throwing for 3,192 yards and setting a new program record with 27 touchdown passes while leading the No. 13 Commodores to one of their strongest seasons in decades. His playmaking ability and durability transformed Vanderbilt’s offense into a national contender, and his appearance on the Heisman finalist list marks a milestone as the first in school history to reach this stage.
Sayin anchored Ohio State’s high-powered offense and kept the Buckeyes at No. 1 for much of the season with his poised and dynamic play. He threw for 3,329 yards and tied for second nationally with 31 touchdown passes, demonstrating exceptional accuracy and leadership throughout the year. His steady command of the offense helped Ohio State maintain its spot among the nation’s elite, securing him a place among the finalists for college football’s highest individual honor.
