2025 Heisman Trophy Finalists Revealed: Shocking Snubs, Key Stats & How to Watch the Ceremony Live

The suspense surrounding the 2025 Heisman Trophy hits its peak tonight as ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown reveals this season’s finalists at 7:30 p.m. ET. The announcement, landing just five days before the Dec. 13 ceremony in New York City, will officially narrow an elite field of college football’s brightest stars—each hoping to join the storied ranks of Heisman immortals. Frontrunners heading into announcement night • Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana — The junior orchestrated a 13-0 season, pacing the Big Ten with 33 TD passes against just six interceptions while adding invaluable rushing yards to keep the Hoosiers unbeaten. • Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt — SEC defenses struggled to contain the Commodores’ dual-threat leader, who piled up 3,192 passing yards, 27 TDs and 600+ on the ground. • Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame — Despite the Irish’s CFP snub, Love’s 1,372 rushing yards and 18 TDs keep him firmly in the mix, especially with voters valuing balance in a QB-heavy year. • Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State — A 31-TD, 3,329-yard campaign and a No. 2 CFP seed bolster Sayin’s case; an Urban-Meyer-era school record in completion percentage doesn’t hurt either. Dark-horse hopefuls Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech), explosive wideout Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) and steady Georgia signal-caller Gunner Stockton round out the projected pool of names most frequently mentioned by voting pundits. Any could crash the party if regional ballots break their way late. Key stats voters are weighing 1. Efficiency: Mendoza’s 71.4 % completion rate leads Power Five starters, while Sayin edges him in passer rating. 2. Signature wins: Indiana’s last-minute drive vs. Ohio State and Vanderbilt’s upset of Georgia stand out as “Heisman moments.” 3. Game control: Love recorded 80 % of Irish first-down rushes in the fourth quarter of one-score games, showcasing value when it matters most. Historic context and selection protocol Ballots—distributed Dec. 1 and due earlier today—allow 870 media members, 57 former winners and one collective fan vote to rank their top three choices. Only the top vote-getters (typically four, occasionally five) earn a plane ticket to Manhattan, where the Heisman Trust will unveil the winner Saturday night on ABC. Why tonight’s reveal drives playoff buzz With Indiana, Ohio State and Vanderbilt all alive in the 12-team CFP, momentum from a finalist nod can ripple into bowl-prep headlines and recruiting chatter. Conversely, Love’s inclusion could spotlight Notre Dame’s CFP exclusion and reignite debate over committee criteria—prime fodder for social media conversation and search traffic alike. How to watch and follow • Finalists announcement: ESPN, Dec. 8, 7 p.m.–8 p.m. ET (during Monday Night Countdown) • Trophy ceremony: ABC, Dec. 13, 8 p.m. ET; streaming on ESPN+ • Live vote totals and historical comparisons: Heisman.com immediately after the ceremony Expect search interest to spike for “2025 Heisman finalists,” “Heisman odds,” and each contender’s name as tonight’s reveal reshapes the narrative. Stay tuned for instant analysis once the envelope opens and the road to college football’s most prestigious hardware becomes crystal clear.