The writers at Last Word on Sports compiled their minds to produce this week’s Heisman Poll. With the regular season coming to a close, some of the top candidates have completed their campaign for the nation’s most prestigious award, the Heisman Trophy. At this point, the focus is narrow. Not often do five players get an invitation to New York for the presentation ceremony. So, although we will state our top five in this week’s poll, the focus can only include three players. For what it’s worth, this writer does not agree with the top three in the odds market. It’s time to name a winner. Conference Championship Weekend looms large with the potential of shifting the opinions of voters with a reduced 48-hour voting period upcoming.
Week 14 Heisman Poll
The Field of Candidates
The writers’ poll is controversial in comparison to many other national pundits. Fernando Mendoza of Indiana, holding the top spot, is about the only traditional note on this list. Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez comes in at number two. In third, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin holds strong. Then, Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt quarterback, made the jump from five to four in the final week of the season. Finally, in fifth place by the skin of his tusks, Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson.
Where is the Love?
The most shocking omission in Week 14 is Jeremiyah Love, running back at Notre Dame. The leading rusher for the Irish sits at fourth in the odds (according to Fan Duel) at +4500, a number lightyears from the top three quarterbacks. However, given the reduced quarterback play in 2025, noted last week, Love’s number should stand out against the crowd. So, why didn’t he make the list at Last Word?
This poll is a microcosm of the difficulties of garnering a vast number of media opinions on one topic. There are innumerable biases and determining factors in the voting process. For example, many of the top candidates, especially Love, play for polarizing programs. Notre Dame is beloved by much of the country. Its national fanbase and deep history demand respect and reverence. However, with all of that love comes some disdain as well. The other half of the country dislikes Notre Dame. There is not much indifference when it comes to the Irish. Other factors like the current state of the playoff race, visibility over the season, and prioritization of the quarterback play a role as well.
Quarterbacks at the Top
Fan Duel has Mendoza leading the odds race (in a tie, more to come on this later) at +160, followed by Sayin at +195. Coincidentally, these two are the only players within actual reach of winning the Heisman Trophy that play on championship weekend. So, one could say it is their award to lose. The highly anticipated matchup between the number one Buckeyes and number two Hoosiers will do more than crown a Big Ten champion. This game will shape the layout of the College Football Playoff. That type of hype brings a high platform. The nation’s attention will be focused on this game, without competition. With that, it will be the last opportunity to burn a Heisman moment into the minds of voters.
Mendoza’s Heisman moment is already cemented with a last-second comeback against Penn State less than a month ago. Sayin has been solid. But solid does not win the Heisman. The low quarterback numbers over the course of the season, along with fantastic team success, have elevated these two players to an opportunity to win the Heisman, but make no mistake, they have both lacked the team value that exists in one other quarterback.
The Case for Pavia
Tied for first place in the Fan Duel odds to win the Heisman Trophy is the Commodore gunslinger, Pavia. Let’s begin with the obvious: his numbers are better than both Mendoza and Sayin. Pavia has accounted for 4018 total yards and 36 touchdowns. This compares nicely to 3001 yards and 38 touchdowns for Mendoza and 3092 yards and 30 touchdowns for Sayin. Broken apart, the numbers show that just under 250 of Mendoza’s yards came on the ground, and only 27 for Sayin. Pavia’s yardage, on the other hand, contains over 800 rushing yards. The Vanderbilt quarterback produces through the air and on the ground. He truly leads his team in both ways, generating offense like no other player in the country.
Then, there is the intangible side of things. Not only do Pavia’s numbers show that he is the best player in college football in 2025, but the production relative to the team also shows that he is the most valuable as well. His tenacity, confidence, and swagger set the tone for the Commodores. Vanderbilt is a traditional doormat. Even as a member of the SEC, they have struggled to even become bowl-eligible on a semi-consistent basis. So, getting to 10-2 in the regular season in the deepest conference in football requires more than increased talent. It requires a cultural shift. Enter Pavia. He is the face of Vandy Football and embodies every ounce of belief required to turn what that program has been known to be into a College Football Playoff contender.
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