- College Football
Rivalry Week is here. The Heisman Trophy is around the corner. Let’s break it down
by Mark SchofieldNov 28, 2025, 2:00 PM UTC
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Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.A massive weekend of college football awaits.
Rivalry games from coast to coast dot the schedule this week, and there are implications for almost every single contest on the slate. Whether those implications involve the College Football Playoffs, potential head coaching vacancies, the upcoming transfer window, or more there are several reasons to tune into each game.
The Heisman race is no different.
Here’s an updated look at our Heisman Trophy rankings, with a peek ahead at what remains, and what is at stake, for each player.
Plus how you can watch them this weekend. In a fascinating twist to the tale, eight of the nine players on this list have games on the road this weekend.
1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (LW: 1)
We made the case last week that for Fernando Mendoza, he needs to play the rest of the season like David Simms in the movie Tin Cup.
Fairways and greens. Do no harm.
Well, Mendoza could not take a step back last week, as the Hoosiers were idle. Indiana gets Purdue this weekend in the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket, and barring a disaster in that game (or in an eventual Big Ten Championship Game against Ohio State), Mendoza is in line for at minimum an invitation to New York City.
And he’ll likely head to New York City as the favorite.
Week 14 Matchup: at Purdue, 7:30 p.m. ET, Friday (NBC/Peacock)
2. Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (LW: 2)
Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith were both out for Ohio State against Rutgers, but Julian Sayin rolled on with an efficient performance in Ohio State’s victory. Sayin connected on 13-of-19 passes for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Ohio State’s 42-9 win over the Scarlet Knights.
He’ll have a massive stage Saturday against Michigan, and a likely spot in the Big Ten Championship Game as well to bolster his case. And that potential Big Ten Championship Game may come against the quarterback he is chasing in this specific race.
Week 14 Matchup: at Michigan, 12:00 p.m. ET, Saturday (FOX)
3. Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt (LW: 3)
Yes, it came against a five-win Kentucky team, but Diego Pavia delivered a statement performance last Saturday against the Wildcats.
Pavia completed 33-of-39 passes for 484 yards and five touchdowns in the 45-17 win over Kentucky. While he did throw an interception, his completion percentage, yardage, and touchdown numbers all represented career-high marks.
After the win head coach Clark Lea made the pitch for his quarterback.
“He’s the best player in the country and deserves to be in the Heisman conversation,” said Lea via ESPN and the Associated Press. “He tips the field when he steps on it. There’s only a few players in the world that when the ball’s in your hand that they can take over a game, and he’s done that repeatedly here.”
If the voting was this week, Pavia would be in New York City.
But there are a few weeks left …
Week 14 Matchup: at Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday (ESPN)
4. Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M (LW: 3)
The big game from Diego Pavia dropped Marcel Reed down a spot in these rankings. But that is not because the Texas A&M passer stumbled last Saturday. Reed played a clean game against Samford, connecting on 10-of-15 passes for three touchdowns in the Aggies’ 48-0 win over the one-win Bulldogs.
Reed gets a massive stage on Friday, as Texas A&M travels to Austin to take on Arch Manning and Texas. This is a huge stage for the Aggies, and Reed’s Heisman hopes.
Week 14 Matchup: at Texas, 7:30 p.m. ET, Friday (ABC)
5. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (LW: 8)
The biggest mover this week? Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
The Notre Dame RB went off against a depleted Syracuse team, running for 171 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries.
Love is third in the nation in yards per game (118.7), second in the nation in total touchdowns (20), and fourth in all-purpose yards (143.6). What might work against him is the lack of a conference title game, but Love has absolutely put himself in the mix after last week.
Week 14 Matchup: at Stanford, 10:30 p.m. ET, Saturday (ESPN)
6. Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia (LW: 6)
Gunner Stockton jumped into the rankings last week after a strong game against Texas. But a tuneup game against Charlotte added little to his resume, as Stockton completed 17-of-21 passes for 196 yards and an interception against the 49ers.
Still, he’ll have a rivalry game against Georgia Tech to bolster his case, as well as a potential SEC Championship Game in two weeks’ time. But the Bulldogs will need some help to make it to Atlanta for that contest, as a win over Georgia Tech will not be enough.
Week 14 Matchup: at Georgia Tech, 3:30 p.m. ET, Friday (ABC)
7. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech (LW: 7)
Texas Tech was idle last week, which prevented dark-horse candidate Jacob Rodrigues from moving up these rankings. But another big game against West Virginia could see the linebacker secure even more votes in the Heisman race, and potentially earn a trip to New York City.
Week 14 Matchup: at West Virginia, 12:00 p.m. ET, Friday (ESPN)
8. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (LW: 5)
Alabama rolled against FCS opponent Eastern Illinois on Saturday by a final score of 56-0, and the blowout gave head coach Kalen DeBoer a chance to hold out some key players ahead of the Iron Bowl.
However, the game did not exactly bolster Ty Simpson’s Heisman Trophy resume.
The Alabama passer threw a pair of interceptions and finished his afternoon with 11 completions (on 19 attempts) for 147 yards and the two picks.
It will take a massive game against Auburn — and stumbles elsewhere — to salvage his candidacy.
Week 14 Matchup: at Auburn, 7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday (ABC)
9. Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech (LW: 9)
Georgia Tech’s loss to Pittsburgh may have ended their College Football Playoff hopes, and it also put a big dent in Haynes King’s Heisman chase. The Georgia Tech QB completed 27-of-41 passes for 257 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and added another 76 yards and a score on the ground, but the Yellow Jackets’ loss is going to be a mark against him on his Heisman resume.
Still, a massive game against Georgia could change everything for him and Georgia Tech.
Week 14 Matchup: vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m. ET, Friday (ABC)
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