The winner of the 2024 Heisman Trophy made history. Through four weeks of the 2025 college football season, the new 2025 favorite stands to do so, as well.
Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter won the award for his joint effort as a wide receiver and defensive back, becoming the first non-quarterback to win the honors since Alabama’s DeVonta Smith in 2020. Entering Week 5, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is trying to make some history of his own.
Mendoza, who leads college football with 14 touchdown passes, is the new betting odds favorite for the Heisman Trophy, per BetMGM. He threw for five touchdowns in a 63-10 win over Illinois, proving the Hoosiers to be a legitimate College Football Playoff contender out of the Big Ten Conference.
If Mendoza won, he would make history as the first Indiana player to win the honors. However, he has some tight competition and there is plenty of season left.
Here’s a look at the top contenders for the Heisman Trophy early on in 2025:
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza is Heisman Trophy favorite
Mendoza is the current Heisman favorite following a strong performance against Illinois, against whom he completed 21 of 23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns. On the season, Mendoza leads CFB with his 14 touchdown passes. His 975 passing yards are good for 30th nationally.
After not tossing a touchdown against Old Dominion in Week 1, Mendoza has thrown four, five and five touchdown passes in his last three games, respectively.
The first-year Hoosier transfer is seeking to become the first Indiana football player to ever win the award. Former Hoosier running back Anthony Thompson finished as the runner-up to Houston quarterback Andre Ware in 1989.
Oklahoma’s John Mateer fades from race due to injury
Mateer opened the week as the betting favorite at +700 to win the Heisman Trophy following a 271-yard, single-touchdown performance in the win over Auburn on Sept. 20. However, his stand at the top was short-lived, as news that he needed hand surgery dropped him down the boards.
Mateer has completed 94 of 141 passes (67.4%) for 1,215 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions on the season. He currently has the 14th-best odds to hoist the trophy, at +2200.
Jeremiah Smith lurking
For the second straight week, Smith is the only non-quarterback listed in the top 10 of the Heisman Trophy betting odds. Smith, who has 20 receptions for 315 yards and three touchdowns through three games, was on a bye week with his Buckeyes in Week 4, but still made the jump from sixth in odds to fourth this week.
If Smith were to win the Heisman, he would join Hunter and Smith as the only receivers to win the award since Tim Brown in 1987.
Heisman Trophy odds list
Here are the odds from BetMGM, as of Wednesday, Sept. 24:
- 1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana, +650
- 2. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon: +1000
- 3. Carson Beck, QB, Miami: +1200
- T-4. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State: +1400
- T-4. Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia: +1400
- T-6. Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M: +1500
- T-6. Josh Hoover, QB, TCU: +1500
- T-6. Joey Aguilar, QB, Tennessee: +1500
- T-6. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU: +1500
- 10. Jayden Maiava, QB, USC: +1600