The Heisman trophy race is beginning to shape up as we concluded Week 10 this past weekend, and the final stretch of the season will determine which players can truly separate from the pack.
With two of the leading candidates idle this week, new names emerged. A mix of quarterbacks and a few standout non-quarterbacks used the extra exposure to solidify or even enhance their Heisman credentials.
5 Players Who Strengthened Their Heisman Resume in Week 10:
1) Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio St.
PFSN QB Impact Rating: 94.2, A
Ohio State’s redshirt freshman Julian Sayin continues to wow the nation week in and week out as the Buckeyes bullied Penn State this past weekend, 38-14. Sayin proved once again why he is No. 1 in the nation for completion percentage, going 20 for 23, throwing for 316 yards and four touchdowns. Through Ohio State’s eight games, the underclassman quarterback sits with an 80.7 completion percentage and also ranks first nationally with a 197.1 quarterback rating.
Ohio State QB Julian Sayin is our Quarterback of the Week after he led the Buckeyes to a dominant 38-14 win over Penn State 💥
• 20 for 23 passing
• 316 passing yards
• 4 passing touchdowns
• 13.7 yards per completion pic.twitter.com/S9rDmJ8Bw7— PFSN College (@PFSNcollege) November 3, 2025
The Buckeyes have been without a Heisman since Troy Smith’s 2006 season. Still, as Sayin’s season continues, it is becoming more apparent that the 20-year-old quarterback has a legitimate shot at winning the Heisman trophy. With Purdue, UCLA, and Rutgers lined up before Ohio State’s big game against Michigan, the Buckeyes have a chance to grab three more wins and allow Sayin to rack up more statistics.
2) Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
PFSN RB Impact Rating: 87.4, B+
Jeremiyah Love is back in the top five risers this week following an impressive performance in Notre Dame’s 25-10 win against Boston College in Week 10. The Fighting Irish running back logged 136 yards on 17 carries, finding the end zone twice as well. This outing helped put Jeremiyah Love at 894 rushing yards, ranking No. 6 in the country, and tied for fifth with 11 rushing scores.
Although the Heisman has presumably become a quarterback award, there are rare instances in which another position player wins the trophy. For running backs, there has not been a winner since Derrick Henry’s 2015 campaign, but Love’s trajectory can certainly add a new name to the illustrious list of non-quarterback Heisman winners.
3) Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
PFSN QB Impact Rating: 96.4, A
Fernando Mendoza had a relatively decent game to help keep his name within the Heisman contention as Indiana beat Maryland 55-10. Mendoza’s 201 yards put the quarterback well over 2,000 yards on the season, also logging a touchdown in the air and on the ground. The 6-foot-5 gunslinger currently ranks in the top five in several categories among all quarterbacks, including touchdowns, completion percentage and quarterback rating.
Mendoza would throw his fourth interception against Maryland, marking it the second time this season he has thrown a pick in back-to-back games, which will seemingly be the only knock so far to his impressive Heisman resume through nine games. Mendoza ranks No. 1 on the PFSN QB Impact scale, and with only three games remaining, has a chance to stay one of the nation’s top quarterbacks for the 2026 NFL Draft as well.
4) Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio St.
PFSN WR Impact Rating: 84.2, B
Buckeye wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has quietly crept back into the top of the Heisman race as the sophomore sensation sits with 725 yards on 55 receptions through eight games. Against Penn State this past weekend, Smith compiled 123 yards and two touchdowns, putting him at 9 total touchdowns on the year. He’s currently tied for third nationally in receiving touchdowns, but with a favorable schedule ahead, he has a chance to add to this and potentially become No. 1.
While it would not be the first time in the 2020s a receiver won the Heisman award (Devonta Smith, Alabama, 2020), Jeremiah Smith would need to put on a clinic in the next couple of games for Ohio State if he wants to be considered a legitimate candidate for college football’s prestigious award. With the Buckeyes set to face off against some relatively weaker secondaries from now on, Smith will definitely have an opportunity to eat up yards to help boost his Heisman resume.
5) Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
PFSN QB Impact Rating: 91.6, A-
A new addition to the list, Ole Miss transfer quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, has made solid work in his seven starts for the Rebels. Since taking over in Week 3, the senior quarterback has thrown for over 2,000 yards, along with 10 touchdowns and only one interception. His schedule has been fairly impressive as the Rebels logged wins against Arkansas, LSU, and Oklahoma so far this season.
Despite dropping a game to Georgia, Chamblis would show some serious resilience against a stifling defense, totaling three touchdowns on his own that game. Following a bounce-back win over South Carolina, the Rebels, sitting at 8-1, will potentially have a chance at the SEC championship game if they can win out for the remainder of the season. This sets the stage for Chambliss to lead Ole Miss to the promised land and potentially put his name in the Heisman contention.