Heisman Trophy Odds: Julian Sayin Overtakes Fernando Mendoza as New Heisman Favorite in Final Weeks
The Heisman Trophy race has narrowed again after Week 11, with Julian Sayin slightly beating out Fernando Mendoza at the top of the leaderboard. Will one of these Big Ten QB's take home the 2025 Heisman Trophy, or will an SEC Star steal it away? Peter Alexis examines the Heisman Trophy odds ahead of Week 12.
Peter Alexis - November 11, 2025, 10:30 AM EST
5 Minute ReadHeisman Trophy Odds: Julian Sayin Barely Edging Fernando Mendoza in Week 12 Heisman Race Update
With just a few weeks left in the college football regular season, the Heisman Trophy race is finally starting to take shape. The leaderboard has narrowed to four serious contenders, and a new favorite has emerged from the pack. Ohio State’s Julian Sayin has taken control of the odds after another dominant stretch, while Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, and Marcel Reed continue to battle to keep their names in the conversation. Each quarterback leads a top-ten program, and with conference titles and playoff spots on the line, the next few games could easily swing the entire race.
What makes this season’s Heisman race so compelling is the balance between raw production and perfection. Sayin and Mendoza are dueling statistically atop the leaderboard, while Simpson and Reed continue to build their cases on winning and leadership. But as voters tend to reward efficiency and clutch performance down the stretch, Sayin’s remarkable precision has pushed him to the front. With each passing week, the Buckeyes’ sophomore star looks more and more like the complete quarterback — one capable of delivering both style and substance.
Looking for advanced AI predictions and props to enhance your CFB betting? Try out oddschecker+ now on this limited time 7-day free trial!
Heisman Trophy Odds
Heisman Trophy Odds Breakdown
Julian Sayin (+170) Check out the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Sayin has seized the Heisman lead behind three straight games of over 300 yards passing and nine total touchdowns during that run. He’s the most efficient quarterback in the country, boasting an 80% completion rate and a 192.0 passer rating, both tops in the nation. His command of Ohio State’s offense has turned the Buckeyes into a weekly highlight reel, and his +400 odds just two weeks ago have shortened dramatically to +170. If he keeps this pace through the Michigan game and the Big Ten title, the trophy might be his to lose.
Fernando Mendoza (+190) Check out the best odds at Caesars Sportsbook
Mendoza isn’t going quietly. The Indiana signal-caller engineered a dramatic comeback win over Penn State on the road last weekend, capped by a last-second touchdown pass that kept the Hoosiers perfect at 10-0. He’s thrown for two more touchdowns than Sayin on the season, though he’s played one additional game. If Mendoza maintains that edge in production and keeps Indiana undefeated, he could easily reclaim the top spot. For now, he’s within striking distance — and the late-game heroics only strengthen his case.
Ty Simpson (+500) Check out the best odds at Fanduel Sportsbook
Simpson’s Heisman stock took a small hit in Alabama’s grind-it-out win over LSU, where he threw for just one touchdown and failed to produce the fireworks we’ve seen in prior weeks. The Crimson Tide are 8-1 and very much in the playoff race, but Simpson will need a big statement game against Georgia or in the SEC Championship to reassert himself. His odds have drifted from +360 to +500, showing that the market now sees him as a distant third, though one explosive performance could change that narrative fast.
Marcel Reed (+850) Check out the best odds at Caesars Sportsbook
Reed remains the longshot among the top four, but he’s kept Texas A&M unbeaten at 9-0 with another strong outing against Missouri. The Aggies have quietly been one of the most balanced teams in the nation, and Reed’s dual-threat ability continues to shine. Still, he’s going to need monster numbers in the coming weeks to leapfrog the heavyweights above him. Without that Heisman “moment,” he’s more likely to finish as an honorable mention than a finalist.
More College Football Odds
Affiliate Disclosure.
We are not a gambling or betting operator, but we receive a commission from these companies when we advertise their brands and refer customers to them (affiliate marketing). We provide information, odds information and links to websites of these companies. Some of the information made available on our site may be positioned as a result of a commission paid to us by a third party. We do not take or place bets/transactions and any information on Our Products is provided for entertainment purposes only.
