November Shake-up: A New Heisman Contender Turns up the Pressure in the NCAA
The Heisman watch continues to heat up entering Week 11, and the race now features a fast-charging newcomer at the front of the pack. Ohio State sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin has surged to the top of the betting boards, entering the week as the favorite thanks to elite efficiency and big-stage performances. Across the season, Sayin has thrown for 2,188 yards with 23 touchdowns against just three interceptions and holds the nation’s top QBR at 90.9. His primary challenger is Indiana’s breakout star Fernando Mendoza, the Cal transfer who has powered the Hoosiers into November relevance. Mendoza’s line; 2,124 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, four interceptions, plus four scores on the ground, has kept him firmly in striking distance. With both quarterbacks guiding resurgent offenses, the margin between them is razor thin as November showdowns loom.
Sayin’s resume is built on ruthless precision and statement Saturdays. Two weeks ago, he diced Wisconsin for a career-best 393 yards and four touchdowns in a 34–0 road rout, then followed by carving up Penn State with 316 yards and four scores in a 38–14 win; performances that vaulted his candidacy from dark horse to front-runner. The Buckeyes’ passing game has found a devastating rhythm with Sayin’s timing and his rapport with explosive wideouts Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Mendoza has strung together headline weekends of his own, captaining a Hoosiers attack that has hung 50 in back-to-back games while maintaining his sparkling TD/INT ratio and adding valuable rushing production. The head-to-head comparison is tight: Sayin brings superior efficiency and significant wins; Mendoza counters with relentless production and a suddenly potent Indiana offense. How each quarterback navigates the season’s final stretch will likely separate the favorite from the finisher.
The Heisman itself is more than hardware; it’s a legacy maker. First awarded in 1935 by New York’s Downtown Athletic Club and renamed in 1936 to honor coach John Heisman, the trophy is now presented each December by the Heisman Trophy Trust and remains college football’s most prestigious individual honor. Recent winners underscore its extent; in 2024, two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter added his name to the fraternity. Beyond history and ceremony, the award signals excellence with integrity and often accelerates brand power, draft stock, and enduring name recognition for its winner. For Sayin or Mendoza, hoisting the Heisman would cement a program-defining season and position their teams squarely in the College Football Playoff chase. The next few Saturdays will write the final chapter of a race that’s suddenly too close to call.
