I have been blessed throughout my journey as a football writer, through memberships with organizations such as the FWAA, PFWA, and the Maxwell Football Club, and through opportunities to be approved for credentials for Super Bowl LIX Game of Week, the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, and countless games at Penn State.
Among all of those experiences, having the privilege to vote for the Heisman Trophy remains one of the greatest honors of my career.
The Heisman Trophy’s history is a story unto itself. From the contrast between its first two recipients, Jay Berwanger and Larry Kelley, to Ernie Davis’ remarkable courage, to John Cappelletti’s emotional speech. From Keith Jackson’s iconic “Hello, Heisman” moment with Michigan’s Desmond Howard, to recent generational talents like Derrick Henry, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, and Travis Hunter — the award’s legacy is shaped by players who transcend the sport.
Below is my 2025 Heisman ballot.
Jeremiah Smith leaps and stretches over a Penn State defender to make a one handed touchdown catch. (Photo by Eddie Provident, Nittany Sports Now)
Kyle Golik’s Heisman Ballot
Third Place — Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Covering Smith in the Rose Bowl against Oregon was witnessing one of the most dominant performances I have ever seen live.
He entered the season as my clear No. 1 candidate, but as the year progressed, it often felt as though he shared the spotlight with Carnell Tate — both of whom I selected as All-Americans.
Smith demonstrates all the traits and skills that has him as the best in the nation.
When you watch opposing defenses, it is interesting the dynamics they go through to thwart him. His hands are some of the best I have seen live. PFF notes that when targeted, Ohio State quarterbacks have a 146 NFL passer rating (158.3 is a perfect passer rating).
My benchmark for Heisman-caliber wide receivers is Alabama’s DeVonta Smith, whose dominance was undeniable every time he stepped on the field.
Smith has that level of potential, but he didn’t consistently reach that mark in the biggest moments, which ultimately placed him at No. 3 on my ballot.
Second Place — David Bailey, Texas Tech
Last season, I was stunned that Penn State’s Tyler Warren received no Heisman consideration, because his impact at the tight end position was unlike anything I had seen. The Heisman traditionally favors offensive skill players, particularly quarterbacks, but when you talk to NFL evaluators or college coaches, they’ll tell you that elite teams are built on three pillars: quarterback, blindside tackle, and edge rusher.
Bailey was, by far, the best edge rusher in college football this season.
According to PFF, he recorded 74 pressures on 351 pass-rush snaps.
That 21.1% pressure rate is firmly in elite territory that the kind of range players like Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett operate in at the next level. To put it in perspective, Abdul Carter had an 18.8% pressure rate and he was the top defender taken in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Bailey finished second nationally in sacks (13.5) and third in tackles for loss (18), underscoring the extent of his impact on Texas Tech’s defense that was third in the nation in scoring defense.
First Place — Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
In an era where running backs split carries and rarely serve as the focal point of an offense, what Love accomplished at Notre Dame was extraordinary.
The last running back to win the Heisman was Alabama’s Derrick Henry in 2015.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.During that regular season, Henry accumulated 725 breakaway yards (Henry did finish with 815 yards at the completion of Alabama’s CFP run) — a PFF metric that measures yards gained on explosive runs of 15 yards or more.
Love finished with 726 breakaway yards and ranked fifth nationally with 37 explosive runs.
His combination of power and burst was evident in the 60 missed tackles he forced on 199 carries, a remarkable level of efficiency and physicality.
It’s important to remember that Henry carried the ball 396 times in 2015, something we are unlikely to see again at the Power Four level. Despite far fewer touches, Love finished second nationally with 21 touchdowns from scrimmage while averaging 7.3 yards per play.
Taken together all the metrics, the tape, and the impact, Jeremiyah Love was my 2025 Heisman Trophy winner.
Why Not Sayin or Mendoza?
I had the privilege of watching both Julian Sayin and Fernando Mendoza compete against Penn State this season, and both are exceptional athletes. However, neither spent much time inside my Top 5 during the year.
Sayin came close, especially as he flirted with an 80% completion rate, but his efficiency didn’t consistently hold in the biggest moments. His performances against Texas in Week 1 and in the Big Ten Championship Game reflected that. And when he was without Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith against Rutgers, he looked pedestrian.
The Big Ten Championship Game, in particular, hurt his candidacy. On Ohio State’s roster, I genuinely felt Sayin was the fourth-best player this season. I couldn’t justify giving a Heisman vote to a player I didn’t view as the best on his own team.
Mendoza, on the other hand, grabbed my attention with that unforgettable throw to beat Penn State on a play I still marvel at.
Another was his 33-yard connection with Charlie Becker in the Big Ten Championship Game. People called those “Heisman moments.”
While I agree they were spectacular, I believe moments should spark the conversation, not decide the award. The full body of work has to win out.
If I could revisit my process, one player I would elevate further is Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. The more film I watched, the more I wished I had championed him harder on my All-America ballots.
Ultimately, Love and Bailey were a cut above the rest. I did consider Mendoza for No. 3, but in my evaluations, Smith and Rodriguez more clearly defined dominance at their positions, which nudged Mendoza just outside the Top 3.
To me, Mendoza is the best quarterback in college football. While I selected Sayin as an FWAA All-American, at the time when ballots were due they were neck and neck, if I had another chance, Mendoza would get the nod.
My Final Top 10 of 2025
- Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- David Bailey, Texas Tech
- Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
- Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
- Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
- Arvell Reese, Ohio State
- Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- Julian Sayin, Ohio State
- Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
- Spencer Fano, Utah
