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Coming into the season, the 2025 Heisman Trophy race was expected to be led by flashier star names — Arch Manning, Jeremiah Smith and Cade Klubnik were all among the top preseason picks to hoist the award given to the sport’s best player. Flash forward to December, and a group of preseason underdogs were the finalists to join college football’s legends with a Heisman Trophy.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love found themselves in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, which included a celebration of the award’s history and the excellence of past winners.
At the end of the night, it was Mendoza on stage, tearing up as he was rewarded for an outstanding 2025 campaign, leading his Indiana squad to a 13-0 record entering the College Football Playoff. The quarterback became the first Hoosiers player to win the Heisman Trophy, further establishing himself as college football’s premiere talent in 2025.
Here’s a look at the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, the full voting results and how the finalists stacked up entering the ceremony.
MORE: Why Fernando Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy
Who won the Heisman Trophy in 2025?
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy on Saturday night. Mendoza finished first in voting, ahead of Julian Sayin, Diego Pavia and Jeremiyah Love. Mendoza finished 927 points in voting above Pavia, the runner-up.
Mendoza led the Hoosiers to a perfect 13-0 season, including a Big Ten championship, while throwing for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns. He becomes the first Indiana player to win the Heisman Trophy.
The Sporting News tracked updates from throughout the Heisman ceremony, and also has everything you need to know from the voting results below.
All times ET.
8:00 p.m. — Your 2025 Heisman Trophy winner: Fernando Mendoza. The Indiana quarterback is announced as the winner of this year’s award given to college football’s most outstanding player, and he will now make a speech on stage.
Congratulations to the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, @IndianaFootball quarterback Fernando Mendoza!#Heisman | #MoreThanATrophy pic.twitter.com/DMqXA16ode
— The Heisman Trophy (@HeismanTrophy) December 14, 2025
FERNANDO MENDOZA IS THE 2025 HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER 🥳 pic.twitter.com/c99fn03Fvt
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) December 14, 2025
The moment Fernando Mendoza became a Heisman winner 🥹🏆 pic.twitter.com/nEobBz3T8U
— ESPN (@espn) December 14, 2025
7:44 p.m. — Sayin and Love have gotten their time in the spotlight. The official Heisman announcement is coming soon.
7:31 p.m. — Fernando Mendoza and Diego Pavia had their time in the spotlight for the ceremony as ESPN went into their backgrounds. Julian Sayin and Jeremiyah Love are next, then we’ll know our 2025 Heisman winner.
Alberto Mendoza knew his brother, Fernando, was the real deal since high school 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LfK6NkKoi9
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) December 14, 2025
7:25 p.m. — As we near the announcement of the 2025 winner, former Heisman winners spoke to this year’s finalists:
Wait for Travis Hunter 🤪 pic.twitter.com/266SzNJ6wM
— ESPN (@espn) December 14, 2025
7:02 p.m. — The Heisman Trophy ceremony is underway. Johnny Manziel, Tim Tebow, Tim Brown and plenty more former winners are in the building.
Johnny Manziel is at the Heisman Trophy ceremony tonight 👀 pic.twitter.com/kQnjT2Gng8
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) December 14, 2025
6:50 p.m. — Regardless of tonight’s winner, the four finalists appear to be going home with a nice watch.
Not a bad watch for the finalists! pic.twitter.com/Ffh5cUer4W
— Joe Cronin (@Joe_cronin03) December 12, 2025
6:43 p.m. — The Pavia brothers are ready for the Heisman Ceremony.
The Pavia Brothers have arrived at the Heisman Ceremony ⚓ pic.twitter.com/Fqvv7VXYdL
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) December 13, 2025
6:15 p.m. — Which of these players will join a list of legends?
Who will take home the Heisman Trophy? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Dv7eMjVFeV
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) December 13, 2025
5:44 p.m. — Tim Brown, one of many Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winners, posed alongside Jeremiyah Love this afternoon. Could the running back join the list of Fighting Irish legends with some hardware?
Legendary ☘️ #GoIrish🫶 pic.twitter.com/ViWJIie4co
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) December 13, 2025
5:43 p.m. — Diego Pavia, live from New York:
Today is the day ⤵️#2Turnt | @HeismanTrophy pic.twitter.com/4Wt1oTe0HN
— #14 Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) December 13, 2025
5:42 p.m. — We’re just over an hour away from the ceremony beginning. The four finalists were in the Lincoln Center earlier for the festivities:
Our finalists visited Jazz at Lincoln Center this afternoon ahead of tonight’s Ceremony.
Who’s going home with the trophy? pic.twitter.com/q1L4bQLBUw
— The Heisman Trophy (@HeismanTrophy) December 13, 2025Heisman voting results 2025FinishPlayerPos.SchoolPoints1st2nd3rd1Fernando MendozaQBIndiana2,362643191512Diego PaviaQBVanderbilt1,4351893521643Jeremiyah LoveRBNotre Dame719461572674Julian SayinQBOhio State43281181725Jacob Rodriguez Texas Tech29517561326Jeremiah Smith Ohio State84418367Gunner StocktonQBGeorgia4336228Trinidad ChamblissQBOle Miss232579Caleb Downs Ohio State22231010Haynes KingRBGeorgia Tech182110
MORE HEISMAN TROPHY NEWS:
Heisman Trophy finalists stats
Here’s a look at each Heisman finalist’s numbers in 2025.
Fernando Mendoza, QB, IndianaComp-Att (Pct)Pass ydsAVGPass TDsINTsRatingRush ydsRush TDs226-316 (71.5%)2,9809.4336181.42406Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio StateComp-Att (Pct)Pass ydsAVGPass TDsINTsRatingRush ydsRush TDs279-356 (78.4%)3,3239.3316182.1-20Diego Pavia, QB, VanderbiltComp-Att (Pct)Pass ydsAVGPass TDsINTsRatingRush ydsRush TDs242-340 (71.2%)3,1929.4178171.58268Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre DameCarriesRush ydsRush TDsYPCCatchesRec ydsRec TDs1991,372186.9272803
MORE: What were each finalist’s “Heisman Moment”?
How to watch the Heisman Trophy ceremonyTime: 7 p.m. ETTV Channel: ABCStream: Fubo
The Heisman Trophy ceremony will air on ABC from Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room in New York City. It will be hosted by Chris Fowler, with Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Tim Tebow and Andre Ware also set to make appearances, per ESPN.
Fans can stream the Heisman Trophy ceremony through Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users.
MORE: Which players were snubbed as 2025 Heisman Trophy finalists?
College football award winners 2025Heisman Trophy (outstanding player of the year): Fernando Mendoza, IndianaMaxwell Award (player of the year): Fernando Mendoza, IndianaDavey O’Brien Award (best QB): Fernando Mendoza, IndianaDoak Walker Award (best RB): Jeremiyah Love, Notre DameFred Biletnikoff Award (best WR): Makai Lemon, USCJohn Mackey Award (best TE): Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player): Jacob Rodriguez, Texas TechBronko Nagurski (best defensive player): Jacob Rodriguez, Texas TechButkus Award (best linebacker): Jacob Rodriguez, Texas TechJim Thorpe Award (best defensive back): Caleb Downs, Ohio StateRimington Trophy (best center): Logan Jones, IowaOutland Trophy (best interior lineman): Spencer Fano, UtahLou Groza Award (best kicker): Tate Sandell, OklahomaRay Guy Award (best punter): Brett Thorson, GeorgiaHeisman Trophy winners history
Here are the last 15 players to win the Heisman, including their voting point totals. Check out the full list of Heisman Trophy winners here.
YearPlayerPointsMargin of victory2024Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado2,2312142023Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU2,0293282022Caleb Williams, QB, USC2,0316112021Bryce Young, QB, Alabama2,3111,3572020DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama1,8566692019Joe Burrow, QB, LSU2,6081,8462018Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma2,1672962017Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma2,3981,0982016Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville2,1446202015Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama1,8322932014Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon2,5341,2842013Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State2,2051,5012012Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M2,0293232011Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor1,6872802010Cam Newton, QB, Auburn2,2631,184
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