The Heisman Trophy has a reputation for being a bit predictable, and in some ways, that is fair. Since 2000, 20 of the 26 winners of the award have been quarterbacks. It takes a truly groundbreaking season from a player at another position to break through against the year’s top signal-callers.
The winners of the award, however, aren’t always so obvious. Fernando Mendoza joined Indiana with some hype coming off of a solid season for Cal in 2024, but few would peg him as the nation’s best player entering ’25. Colorado’s Travis Hunter entered ’24 with some Heisman hype given the magnitude of what he was attempting—to play a full season at two high-leverage positions. He was among the best cornerbacks and wide receivers in all of FBS and won the Heisman as a result. Even the ’23 winner, Jayden Daniels, was in the discussion entering the season, but it wasn’t until midway through the fall, after an electric run of four-touchdown games, that he truly took control of the race.
