Who won the Heisman Trophy in 2025? Voting results, list of award winners
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Who won the Heisman Trophy in 2025? Voting results, list of award winners
John Leuzzi, USA TODAY NETWORK·USA TODAY Sports
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4 min read
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College football's most prestigious brotherhood has welcomed its newest member.
Following theconclusion of the Army-Navy Game, the Heisman Trophy award — the sport's highest individual honor — was handed to the top college football player in the country during an awards ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13 in New York.
Here's what you need to know about the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner:
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (15) celebrates after the Indiana versus Ohio State Big Ten Championship football game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.
(Rich Janzaruk, Herald-Times via USA TODAY Network)
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates after the team’s win against Kentucky at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
(Mark Zaleski, The Tennessean via USA TODAY Network)
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) looks to pass against the Indiana Hoosiers during the 2025 Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 6, 2025, in Indianapolis.
(Aaron Doster, Imagn Images)
Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) runs against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Neyland Stadium on Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Randy Sartin, Imagn Images)
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) pulls back for the throw during an NCAA college football game against Tennessee on Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young, News Sentinel via USA TODAY Network)
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) runs for a first down during the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY Network)
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) rushes up the field Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, during the 100th annual Old Oaken Bucket game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette.
(Grace Hollars, IndyStar via USA TODAY Network)
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) rushes for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on Nov. 28, 2025, in West Lafayette, Indiana.
(Marc Lebryk, Imagn Images)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks loose for a touchdown run against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Caterina, Imagn Images)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates after scoring against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025.
(Michael Caterina, Imagn Images)
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) celebrates with fans after the game against the UCLA Bruins at Ohio Stadium on Nov. 15, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio.
(Joseph Maiorana, Imagn Images)
Jeremiyah Love #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish speaks to the media during the Notre Dame Fighting Irish media day at the Georgia World Congress Center prior to the 2025 CFP National Championship between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Jan. 18, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (15) celebrates after the Indiana versus Ohio State Big Ten Championship football game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.
(Rich Janzaruk, Herald-Times via USA TODAY Network)
1/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (15) celebrates after the Indiana versus Ohio State Big Ten Championship football game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.
(Rich Janzaruk, Herald-Times via USA TODAY Network)
2/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates after the team’s win against Kentucky at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
(Mark Zaleski, The Tennessean via USA TODAY Network)
3/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) looks to pass against the Indiana Hoosiers during the 2025 Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 6, 2025, in Indianapolis.
(Aaron Doster, Imagn Images)
4/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) runs against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Neyland Stadium on Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Randy Sartin, Imagn Images)
5/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) pulls back for the throw during an NCAA college football game against Tennessee on Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young, News Sentinel via USA TODAY Network)
6/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) runs for a first down during the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY Network)
7/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) rushes up the field Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, during the 100th annual Old Oaken Bucket game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette.
(Grace Hollars, IndyStar via USA TODAY Network)
8/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) rushes for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on Nov. 28, 2025, in West Lafayette, Indiana.
(Marc Lebryk, Imagn Images)
9/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks loose for a touchdown run against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Caterina, Imagn Images)
10/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates after scoring against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025.
(Michael Caterina, Imagn Images)
11/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) celebrates with fans after the game against the UCLA Bruins at Ohio Stadium on Nov. 15, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio.
(Joseph Maiorana, Imagn Images)
12/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Jeremiyah Love #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish speaks to the media during the Notre Dame Fighting Irish media day at the Georgia World Congress Center prior to the 2025 CFP National Championship between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Jan. 18, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza was named the recipient of the 2025 Heisman Trophy on Dec. 13 during an awards ceremony in New York City.
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With Mendoza winning the Heisman Trophy, he becomes the first Indiana player to win the Heisman.
The type of season that Mendoza had with the Hoosiers was far from impressive, as the former Cal quarterback continued to lead Indiana to new heights — like earning the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff after upsettingOhio Statein the Big Ten championship — during its historic turnaround under Curt Cignetti.
"I can't say enough about the way he competes," Cignetti said of Mendoza afterIndiana's Big Ten championship win over Ohio State. "He's got the heart of a champion, and played great tonight and when we needed him."
Mendoza had been either the betting favorite for the Heisman or in the top three of the best-Heisman odds on BetMGM for much of the season. He was the favorite on BetMGM in each of the last two weeks, including last week at -5000 odds.
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The moment that perhaps solidified Mendoza's Heisman candidacy came late in the fourth quarter of the Big Ten championship game when he connected withCharlie Beckerfor a 33-yard catch on third-and-6 backed up in the Hoosiers' side of the field.
