Read on foxsports.com2025 Heisman Trophy Odds: Big Ten Quarterbacks Lead the Race
Two Big Ten quarterbacks have emerged as the clear frontrunners for the 2025 Heisman Trophy following Week 11 of the college football season. Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Indiana's Fernando Mendoza lead the odds board with impressive performances that have propelled their teams to success. Sayin sits at +180 odds after back-to-back 300+ yard passing games, while Mendoza follows closely at +185, leading the undefeated Hoosiers and ranking first in FBS for total touchdowns responsible for. The race features several other standout quarterbacks including Alabama's Ty Simpson and Texas A&M's Marcel Reed, but the Big Ten duo currently holds the pole position for college football's most prestigious individual award.
The 2025 Heisman Trophy race has developed into a compelling quarterback competition, with two Big Ten signal-callers establishing themselves as clear frontrunners following Week 11 of the college football season. Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Indiana's Fernando Mendoza have separated themselves from the pack with consistently outstanding performances that have propelled their respective teams toward championship contention.
Heisman Trophy Odds Leaders
According to the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook as of November 9, 2025, Julian Sayin leads the Heisman race at +180 odds. The Ohio State quarterback has been on an impressive trajectory, seeing his odds improve dramatically from +1400 to +400 between Weeks 7 and 8, and now sitting at the top of the board. Sayin's recent performances against Penn State and Purdue have been particularly noteworthy, as he totaled 619 passing yards with a 5-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio while completing an exceptional 83.9% of his passes in those two games.
Fernando Mendoza's Remarkable Season
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza sits just behind Sayin at +185 odds, representing one of the most compelling stories of the college football season. The Hoosiers quarterback has led his team to a perfect 10-0 record overall and 7-0 in Big Ten play. Mendoza first captured national attention with a spectacular five-touchdown performance against Illinois where the Hoosiers dropped 63 points. His Heisman campaign gained significant momentum after leading Indiana to a victory over then-No. 3 Oregon in Week 7, which caused his odds to surge from +1400 to +600.
Other Notable Contenders
While the Big Ten quarterbacks lead the way, several other players remain in contention for college football's most prestigious individual award. Alabama's Ty Simpson sits at +390 odds after helping the Crimson Tide secure wins over four teams ranked 16th or better this season. Simpson has been responsible for 22 touchdowns while throwing just one interception through 11 weeks.
Texas A&M's Marcel Reed follows at +700 odds, having compiled 2,193 passing yards with 19 touchdowns through the air and six additional rushing scores. Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia represents a longer shot at +2000, but leads all of FBS in total offense with 3,053 yards and has the Commodores positioned for potential College Football Playoff consideration at 8-2.
Path to the Heisman
The final weeks of the regular season will be critical for both Sayin and Mendoza as they seek to solidify their Heisman cases. Sayin's Ohio State Buckeyes continue to rely on his efficient passing and decision-making, while Mendoza's Indiana Hoosiers look to maintain their undefeated season behind his leadership. Both quarterbacks have demonstrated the ability to deliver in clutch situations, with Mendoza recently engineering a game-winning drive against Penn State with just 35 seconds remaining, completing 5-of-9 passes for 87 yards and the winning touchdown.
As the college football season enters its final stretch, the Heisman Trophy race appears to be narrowing to a two-quarterback competition between the Big Ten's standout performers. Their continued success will not only impact individual award consideration but could determine conference championship outcomes and College Football Playoff positioning.
