Fernando Mendoza Wins 2025 Heisman, But He Wasn’t the Only One Who Got Noticed
The 2025 Heisman Trophy race ended with a clear winner: Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. In a year filled with standout performances across the country, Mendoza’s season stood head and shoulders above the rest, earning him the most prestigious individual honor in college football in a landslide victory Saturday night.
Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia finished as the runner-up, while Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love took third. Rounding out the official top five were Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. But as always, the Heisman conversation goes deeper than just the top 10.
Each year, the Heisman Trophy Trust collects 930 ballots-870 from media members, 59 from former Heisman winners, and one from a nationwide fan vote. Voters award three points for a first-place vote, two for second, and one for third. While only 10 players are officially recognized in the final standings, a number of others received at least one vote-and some of those names may surprise you.
Let’s take a closer look at a few players who earned recognition from voters, even if they didn’t crack the top 10.
Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri
Voter: Shane Mettlen (DNR Sports)
Jeremiyah Love may have been the only running back to finish in the Heisman top 10, but Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy made a strong case of his own. Hardy led the SEC in rushing with 1,560 yards on 241 carries, averaging 6.5 yards per tote and scoring 16 touchdowns in 12 games. That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed-especially in a league as rugged as the SEC.
Shane Mettlen thought highly enough of Hardy to place him second on his ballot, behind only Diego Pavia and ahead of the eventual winner, Mendoza. Hardy’s omission from the top 10 underscores just how deep the talent pool was this season.
Jayden Maiava, QB, USC
Voter: Koki Riley (Nola.com)
In his first season in the Big Ten, USC’s Jayden Maiava led the conference in passing yards, throwing for 3,431 yards with a 66.2% completion rate. He added 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions while guiding the Trojans to a 9-3 record and an Alamo Bowl appearance against TCU.
Maiava’s numbers were solid across the board, and his leadership in a transitional year for USC didn’t go unnoticed. Koki Riley listed him third on his ballot, behind Pavia and Mendoza, giving Maiava a well-earned nod for his efforts in a competitive conference.
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Voter: Kevin Bilodeau (Live 5 News)
After a year away from the College Football Playoff, Alabama needed a steady hand under center-and Ty Simpson delivered. The Crimson Tide signal-caller threw for 3,268 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just five interceptions, helping Alabama return to national relevance.
Kevin Bilodeau placed Simpson third on his ballot, behind Mendoza and Love. While Simpson didn’t make the final Heisman cut, his role in Alabama’s resurgence certainly made an impression.
David Bailey, LB, Texas Tech
Voters: Kyle Golik (Nittany Sports Now), Antonio Morales (The Athletic)
While Jacob Rodriguez was the Texas Tech linebacker who finished in the official top five, he wasn’t the only Red Raider defender to turn heads. David Bailey, a transfer from Stanford, made a massive impact in his first season in Lubbock, posting 17.5 tackles for loss and leading the Big 12 with 13.5 sacks in 13 games.
Bailey earned recognition from two separate voters. Antonio Morales gave him a third-place vote behind Mendoza and Pavia, while Kyle Golik slotted him second behind Love and ahead of Ohio State wideout Jeremiah Smith. Bailey’s presence in the Heisman conversation highlights just how disruptive he was all season long.
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Voter: John Canzano (750 The Game)
Early in the season, Oregon’s Dante Moore looked like a legitimate Heisman contender. But a two-interception performance in a 30-20 loss to Indiana on October 11 dented his campaign. Still, Moore finished the year with 2,733 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and six picks, leading the Ducks to an 11-1 record and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Despite the midseason stumble, Moore’s overall body of work was enough to earn a third-place vote from John Canzano, who ranked him behind Pavia and Mendoza. It wasn’t quite the Heisman run some expected, but Moore’s season was nothing short of impressive.
Final Thoughts
Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman win was decisive, but the ballots tell a richer story. From under-the-radar running backs to defensive game-wreckers and quarterbacks who carried their teams through adversity, this year’s vote reflected the depth and diversity of talent across college football.
While only one player walks away with the trophy, the names sprinkled throughout the ballots remind us that greatness comes in many forms-and sometimes, it doesn’t always show up on the final leaderboard.