Breaking: The Heisman returns to network TV tomorrow night, and the stakes could not be higher. I can confirm the 91st Heisman Trophy ceremony will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. ET in the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Four finalists, one bronze statue, and a season’s worth of moments that brought them here. The favorite is Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and the storylines around him make this a historic night in college football. 🏆
The Stage Is Set
The Heisman is back on ABC for the first time since 1993, a shift that puts the sport’s top individual award in front of a wider audience. The Appel Room offers a striking view over Columbus Circle, a dramatic stage for a decision that will define this season.
I have walked the venue today as crews fine tune the show. The tone is classic and polished, with a clear push to celebrate the game’s past and its future, side by side.
Kickoff for the show is 7 p.m. ET on ABC. Plan your evening around the announcement window in the second half of the broadcast.
The Four Who Made It
This is a compact, high-quality field, with four distinct paths to New York. The frontrunner label belongs to Fernando Mendoza, the steady force behind Indiana’s surge to national relevance.
- Fernando Mendoza, Indiana QB. Calm in chaos, lethal on third down, and the author of an upset of Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.
- Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt QB. A fearless dual threat who turned broken plays into signature moments, and kept Commodores fans on their feet.
- Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame RB. Speed, balance, and vision. He found daylight when the Irish needed it and wore down defenses.
- Julian Sayin, Ohio State QB. Efficient and surgical. He ran the Buckeyes offense with poise and rhythm, even under heavy pressure.
Mendoza’s case is built on command and composure. He reads leverage before the snap, then punishes mistakes. Indiana’s offense does not race, it squeezes. He is at the center of that identity. His emotional postgame words after beating Ohio State matched the moment. It showed a leader who carries his family and his program with him every snap.
Why This Heisman Feels Different
This ceremony holds extra meaning. Two Latino quarterbacks, Mendoza of Cuban descent and Pavia of Mexican descent, are finalists together. That is rare in this room, and it matters.
The presence of Mendoza and Pavia as Latino finalists is a milestone for college football. It reflects the sport’s growing reach and the next generation of leaders under center.
The Heisman has long been a mirror for the sport’s culture. Tomorrow, that mirror shows a deeper, broader game. Families, communities, and entire regions will see themselves in this stage in a way they have not before.
What A Win Would Mean
If Mendoza’s name is called, it would be the first Heisman in Indiana football history. That would be a seismic moment in Bloomington. It would validate a build defined by player development, not star chasing. It would also change timelines. Recruits look at a Heisman program differently. Donors do too. Indiana is headed to the Rose Bowl in the College Football Playoff, and a Heisman win would roll momentum into Pasadena.
For the sport, an Indiana winner would underline a simple truth. You can win big with precision, toughness, and belief. You do not need to be a blue blood to own December.
Pavia would bring a different kind of message. Vanderbilt, often an underdog in the SEC, would hold the most famous trophy in the game. Love would restore the great Notre Dame tailback tradition on the sport’s biggest stage. Sayin would add his name to a long line of elite Buckeye quarterbacks, and he would do it with an efficiency-first profile that coaches love.
How The Night Will Flow
Chris Fowler will host, in his 32nd year guiding the show. He will be joined by former winners Desmond Howard, Tim Tebow, and Andre Ware. Expect a brisk first half, finalist features, and a tighter second half that builds toward the reveal.
- Network: ABC
- Start time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Appel Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City
- Analysts: Desmond Howard, Tim Tebow, Andre Ware
Fowler’s steady hand and the return to ABC give this year a classic feel, with a wider window to casual fans who grew up on network sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is the Heisman ceremony?
A: Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET.
Q: How can I watch?
A: The ceremony airs on ABC, live from New York City.
Q: Who are the finalists?
A: Fernando Mendoza, Diego Pavia, Jeremiyah Love, and Julian Sayin.
Q: Who is the favorite?
A: Fernando Mendoza enters as the frontrunner after a breakthrough season and a Big Ten title upset.
Q: Why is this year significant culturally?
A: Two Latino quarterbacks, Mendoza and Pavia, are finalists, a meaningful step for representation in college football.
The lights will be bright. The speeches will be short. The moment will be unforgettable. I will be on site as the envelope opens and a new chapter in college football history is written. Tomorrow night, the Heisman belongs to one player. The ripple will touch everyone.
