Heisman candidates receive boost after Maxwell Award finalists named

Three Heisman Trophy contenders may have moved closer to securing an invite to this year’s ceremony.

On Tuesday, three finalists for the Maxwell Award, given annually to the best college football player by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters and NCAA coaches, were announced. Over the years, the nominations have done a good job of mirroring the results of Heisman voting, a promising sign for this year’s honorees: Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

Maxwell Award nominations could be first in long line of accolades for Jeremiyah Love, Fernando Mendoza and Julian Sayin

We’ll likely hear the three names often during award season after each player put together incredible 2025 seasons.

Love gained 171 yards and scored three touchdowns on eight carries last Saturday against Syracuse. This season, the junior back has 185 carries, 1,306 rushing yards (7.1 yards per carry) and 20 total touchdowns.

Mendoza is tied for the FBS lead in passing touchdowns (30) while completing 73% of his pass attempts for 2,641 yards (9.5 yards per attempt). Sayin has thrown for 2,832 yards, 27 touchdowns and four interceptions while leading the country in completion percentage (79.4%). Former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones set the previous record at 77.4% (2020).

Since 2015, 26 of the 30 players (86.7%) named a Maxwell Award finalist have gone on to receive a Heisman nod.

Of the four that got snubbed, two were running backs, which could put Love on more perilous ground than Mendoza and Sayin.

The SEC champion quarterback, whether it’s Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed, Alabama’s Ty Simpson or Georgia’s Gunner Stockton, will have a strong claim to be named a finalist. Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, a Bednarik Award finalist for best defensive player, is also deserving of serious consideration, as is Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and Oregon quarterback Dante Moore.

There are more deserving candidates than Heisman finalist spaces, increasing the stakes of the next two weeks. The candidates will separate themselves, and on Tuesday, three got a head start.