The smoke has cleared, the dust has settled, and the field for college football’s most illustrious paperweight, the Heisman Trophy, has been narrowed down to four. The guest list for the swanky ceremony in New York City is set, and it’s a fascinating mix of Cinderella stories, a statistical juggernaut, and a lone wolf from the backfield.
The finalists, announced Monday night, are Indiana Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt 1uarterback Diego Pavia, Notre Dame Running Back Jeremiyah Love, and Ohio State Quarterback Julian Sayin. Who will leave New York with the prestigious award in tow?
Heisman Trophy Finalists: The Field Is Set
The announcement dropped during “ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown,” giving football fans plenty to chew on. This year’s quartet will head to the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room, where one of them will walk away with the 45-pound bronze statue and a permanent spot in college football lore. The big reveal is set for Saturday night, after 8 p.m. ET.
It’s a classic Heisman lineup: three gunslinging quarterbacks who lit up scoreboards and one running back who was an absolute workhorse.
The Underdogs Barking Loudest
Let’s talk about the feel-good stories. Mendoza, the signal-caller for the Indiana Hoosiers, just led his team to a Big Ten Championship. You read that right. Indiana, a school known more for basketball courts than gridiron glory, is undefeated and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Mendoza, a transfer from Cal, has been sensational, throwing for a nation-leading 33 touchdowns. He has a shot to be the first-ever Hoosier to win the Heisman. It is the kind of script Hollywood would reject for being too unbelievable.
Then there’s Pavia at Vanderbilt. The Commodores, another program not exactly known for football dominance, rattled off a 10-win season, a school record. Pavia was a human highlight reel, a dual-threat menace who accounted for over 4,000 total yards and 36 scores. He is the engine that made Vandy go, and he’s earned his spot in New York.
The Power Players
You can’t have a Heisman race without some traditional powerhouses. Sayin might have lost the Big Ten title game to Mendoza, but his season was nothing short of spectacular. The kid stepped in as a first-year starter and proceeded to set an FBS single-season record for completion percentage (78.4%). With 31 touchdowns and over 3,300 yards, he led the Buckeyes to a No. 2 seed in the playoffs. Don’t be surprised if he gets the last laugh and leaves with the Heisman Trophy.
And then there’s the lone non-quarterback, Jeremiyah Love. In a world dominated by QBs, Love made his case the old-fashioned way: by running over, around, and through defenses. The Notre Dame running back churned out 1,372 rushing yards and found the end zone a staggering 21 times. He was the heart and soul of a 10-2 Irish team, a throwback player who simply refused to be tackled.
It is an eclectic and deserving group. You have long shots, blue bloods, and a whole lot of talent. Saturday night can’t come soon enough.
