Week 13 Heisman Poll: Surge From The Others

As most college football fans look to the final week of the regular season, rivalry week, our writers at Last Word reflected on the week that was by nominating a new top five in the list of Heisman hopefuls. The national narratives surrounding coaching changes, the college football playoff race, and conference championship races are loud, nearly drowning out the conversation around the game’s most prestigious award. Of course, the closer that we get to the December 13th Heisman Trophy presentation, the more the voices of Heisman voters are heard. As college football’s oldest traditions somewhat fade into the past, the Heisman holds on as a spotlight in history.

After Week 13’s static results, the writers at Last Word did not see fit to bring about much change to the Heisman top five. However, one major change saw Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed fall completely out after a signature Heisman moment in Week 12. To replace Reed, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love vaulted all the way into the number two position after the Irish throttled Syracuse 70-7 behind 171 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries for Love. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza held on to the top spot while Julian Sayin of Ohio State, Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech, and Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt rounded out spots three through five.

The quarterback position has dominated the Heisman Trophy since 2000. That has been well documented here. And to be frank, our money is on a quarterback to win it in 2025. But the top five this week is 40% non-quarterbacks for the first time in a long time. Rodriguez hung on to the number four spot as the fifth-ranked Red Raiders gear up for a College Football Playoff run.

He still has a major opportunity to impress voters, who have been outspoken about struggling with the decision in 2025. Texas Tech is a 24.5-point favorite on the road at West Virginia, but also looks forward to a Big 12 Championship Game appearance in which all eyes will be on Rodriguez and that defense. It would take a career game from the linebacker to have a chance at claiming the top spot in the Heisman race, but it’s not impossible.

The numbers for top quarterbacks like Mendoza and Sayin are not what we have seen from Heisman candidates in the past. Mendoza has just 2641 yards and 30 touchdowns, while Sayin has recorded 2832 yards and 27 touchdowns. Obviously, these guys have at least one more game to play and potentially the Big Ten Championship game as well. But those two games won’t be enough to catch the numbers of recent Heisman winners Jayden Daniels (3812 yards, 40 touchdowns), Caleb Williams (4537 yards, 42 touchdowns), and Bryce Young (4872 yards, 47 touchdowns), just to name a few.

However, the emergence of Love as a real threat on a surging Irish team that looks to run the ball and work through their top back could be enough to dethrone the quarterback kings. It has been ten years since a running back took home the Heisman Trophy. Derrick Henry was the last to do so in 2015 when he amassed 2219 yards and 28 touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Henry’s numbers were the best since Barry Sanders in 1988, so they shouldn’t serve as a great measuring stick. Love’s 1306, 17 touchdowns, and 7.1 YPC are much more comparable to past winners Mark Ingram(2009) and Reggie Bush (2005). The Notre Dame running back is still a bit of a long shot, but with quarterback numbers down, this could be anyone’s trophy to take.

Week 14 brings about an abundance of opportunities for Heisman moments. Reed matches up with Arch Manning and Texas in the Long Star Showdown. Sayin will have a chance to do what no Buckeye has done since 2019: Beat Michigan. The Wolverines are 9-2, looking to play spoiler once again and perhaps sneak into the Big Ten Championship and a shot at the College Football Playoff.

Former honorable mentions Gunner Stockton and Haynes King face off in Atlanta. Ty Simpson will lead Alabama in an eerie Iron Bowl matchup against a nothing-to-lose Auburn program. But perhaps the most prominent opportunity of rivalry lies in the hands of Pavia. He leads Vanderbilt in a top-20 matchup in Knoxville against rival Tennessee. The Commodores still have an outside shot at the College Football Playoff, and Pavia is coming off a monster game against Kentucky. He accounted for a career high 484 yards passing on 33 of 39, resulting in five touchdowns. But that’s not all! He also rushed for 48 yards and a score. If Pavia has a three-touchdown or more performance and leads the ‘Dores to 10-2, he belongs at the top of this discussion. His 2924 yards and 26 touchdowns are on par with both signal callers from the Big Ten.

The end is near, and the race is on. Oddsmakers control the narrative as they set the official order. But the side discussions amongst true football minds will show that the 2025 Heisman Trophy race is unlike years past. No one is running away with the award, and those forgotten names have outperformed the top names on the list. So, one thing is abundantly clear: Rivalry Week will deliver. Results are inevitable. Which candidate will seize the moment? Which one will fumble it? Check back next week as we share the latest changes in the Heisman Trophy Poll.

Main Photo: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports