The Heisman Trophy is as a lot about narrative as it’s about efficiency. Voters are swayed by important moments that stick within the reminiscence.
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza had a type of moments in Saturday’s 27-24 win at Penn State. The second in all probability belonged extra to large receiver Omar Cooper Jr., however it was Mendoza who drove his staff down the sphere after the Hoosiers went down within the fourth quarter.
The truth that Mendoza’s total numbers on the day have been solely so-so (19-of-30 for 218 yards with one passing landing) virtually doesn’t matter. Neither does the truth that he had a pricey interception earlier within the fourth quarter.
The large throw and catch are what individuals will keep in mind from this recreation. It’s additionally why Mendoza is now the co-favorite to win the Heisman on BetMGM with +175 odds.
THROW OF THE YEAR!CATCH OF THE YEAR!
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Omar Cooper Jr. make an unreal play for a go-ahead TD vs. Penn State with 36 seconds left.
🎥 @CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/mX4qr3AOe1
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 8, 2025
Mendoza has been within the combine for many of the season, however was missing a marquee efficiency or second to drive his Heisman marketing campaign. For some time, it regarded like he may need to attend for the Massive Ten Championship Recreation, presumably in opposition to Ohio State and the opposite co-favorite, Julian Sayin.
Sayin was the favourite going into the weekend and did nothing to lose the highest spot within the Buckeyes’ 34-10 win at Purdue. He was 27-of-33 for 303 yards with a landing and an interception.
If Ohio State and Indiana are on a collision course within the Massive Ten title recreation, it looks like Mendoza and Sayin could possibly be enjoying for the Heisman in that recreation as properly.
Indiana performs Wisconsin and Purdue, two groups with a mixed one Massive Ten win, and will likely be closely favored in each video games. Ohio State has UCLA and Rutgers, solely a minor step up in competitors, earlier than going through Michigan within the regular-season finale. Sayin might make an announcement in opposition to Michigan (or get derailed, given the previous couple of leads to that collection). In any other case, it’s all about Indianapolis.
Elsewhere, Alabama’s Ty Simpson and Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed are hanging round. Each quarterbacks guided their top-five groups to wins. Reed threw for 2 touchdowns and had 250 complete yards in a cushty 38-17 win at Missouri, the place the Aggies’ protection did many of the injury early. Simpson didn’t lead the Alabama offense to a giant output on the scoreboard in a 20-9 win, however did have some good deep-ball highlights and completed with 277 yards and a landing on 21-of-35 passing.
These back-to-back throws from Ty Simpson 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QmgzLTUobr
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) November 9, 2025
Simpson is +550 whereas Reed is +750. It might take some slip-ups from Sayin and Mendoza to open the door for these two, however they’ve a shot with some large performances down the stretch. Like Sayin and Mendoza, these two might meet in a convention title recreation with Heisman stakes. Alabama and Texas A&M are the one two SEC groups undefeated in convention play.
The subsequent three contenders have for much longer odds, and it could take one thing miraculous to get them into the race: Ohio State large receiver Jeremiah Smith (+2500), Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (+2500) and Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (+3000).
