Heisman moment? Indiana's Fernando Mendoza now co-favorite

Field Level Media|published: Mon 10th November, 16:18 2025

Nov 8, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) is lifted into the air after throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (3) (not pictured) during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Fernando Mendoza's "Heisman moment" may have come with his game-winning touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. in Indiana's last-minute victory over Penn State on Saturday.

The dramatic win pulled Mendoza even with Ohio State counterpart Julian Sayin at BetMGM, where the rival Big Ten quarterbacks are the co-Heisman Trophy favorites at +175. Sayin is still the slight +165 favorite at DraftKings ahead of Mendoza at +185.

The pair has separated from Alabama's Ty Simpson and Texas A&M's Marcel Reed, who have the next shortest odds at both books.

HEISMAN TROPHY ODDS*

PLAYER, POS, TEAM, OPEN, WEEK 11, CURRENT

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (+5500), (+225), (+175)

Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (+2000), (+175), (+175)

Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (+5500) (+350), (+550)

Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M (+4000), (+750), (+750)

Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (+1300), (+4000), (+2500)

Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt (+12500), (+2500), (+2500)

Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia (+3500), (+2000), (+3000)

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (+5000), (+4000), (+4000)

*BetMGM

It has been a meteoric rise for Mendoza, who opened at +5500 at BetMGM. He began his rise rapidly and has lingered around the top list of favorites for the better part of the past two months. Sayin also opened as a longshot at +2000 but has steadily climbed while guiding Ohio State to a 9-0 record.

Simpson has spent time at the top of the Heisman list as well, but currently sits at +550 at BetMGM, where he is the book's biggest liability. Simpson leads all players with 16.1% of the money backing him to win the Heisman. Second is Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who has drawn 12.6%. While Smith has the shortest odds among non-quarterback, he currently sits as a +2500 longshot along with Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.

There are now only eight players with odds shorter than +10000 at the book.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who began the season as the Heisman favorite, is still a +25000 longshot despite leading the Longhorns back into the Top 10 of the AP Top 25 poll this week.

--Field Level Media

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