For the third straight season, I was fortunate enough to have a Heisman Trophy vote. Having a Heisman vote isn’t something I take lightly. I spent a good deal of time mulling over my decision, as I do on a weekly basis with my Associated Press Top 25 ballot. And like I do with the AP poll, I figured I would share my Heisman ballot.
My colleague, Bob Flounders, will do the same on Sunday morning, so keep an eye out for that. Now that a winner has been named — Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza — I can reveal my top three vote getters. And no, my top choice was not in New York.
### Winner: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
The Heisman Trophy goes to the “most outstanding” player in college football. And despite the Heisman, like the NFL MVP, becoming somewhat of a quarterback award over the years, I take that definition literally.
Last year, my finalists were Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, and Penn State TE Tyler Warren, in that order. My 2023 winner was LSU QB Jayden Daniels, who electrified every snap and accounted for 4,946 total yards and 50 touchdowns.
I’m not going to pick a quarterback just to pick a quarterback. I’m going to pick the best player.
Jeremiah Smith was that transcendent player and was the best player on the field each and every week. The one-handed grabs. The jump balls. The devastatingly good routes. The acceleration after the catch. Smith is must-see TV, and anyone who has watched him would be hard-pressed to pick out a better player across the country.
No, Smith doesn’t have DeVonta Smith-level stats. When the Alabama receiver broke the mold and won the Heisman in 2020, he had 98 catches for 1,511 yards and 17 touchdowns. But it’s not like Jeremiah Smith is just a highlight reel merchant. His 11 touchdowns, 1,086 yards, and 80 catches rank second, third, and fourth respectively among power conference wideouts. That’s while missing a game due to injury and sharing targets with another top-tier receiver in Carnell Tate.
I get why some would vote for Mendoza, who made big throws in big moments and led Indiana to a 13-0 record and a Big Ten title win over Ohio State. But anyone who voted for a quarterback this year played it safe and, in doing so, ignored the most outstanding player in the country.
That was Jeremiah Smith, and it’s baffling that he wasn’t in New York on Saturday night.
### Second Place: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Just like I strongly considered Ashton Jeanty last year, Jeremiyah Love was up there for the top spot on my ballot.
Love was a force of nature. He made defenses look silly. He turned tackles for loss into touchdowns. And he had the necessary numbers to back up his candidacy.
Love had 18 rushing touchdowns and 1,372 yards, which ranked third and fourth in the FBS, respectively. His 6.9 yards per attempt ranked first in the country among running backs with 150 carries or more. He was also tied for the national lead with seven rushes of 40 yards or more.
The most impressive part? He put up those numbers while sharing snaps. Love had 199 carries while Jadarian Price, another future NFL back, had 113 attempts. Imagine what Love would have done with 250+ attempts. Probably more of this same dominant performance.
### Third Place: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
There were a lot of players under consideration for the final spot. But when it came down to it, I was torn between two Texas Tech defenders: linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and edge rusher David Bailey.
Bailey was unbelievable at the most important non-quarterback position in the sport. He made life hell for quarterbacks, relentlessly attacking the passer and racking up an FBS-leading 74 pressures and 14 sacks. The Stanford transfer also represented the Red Raiders’ rise from a middle-of-the-pack Big 12 program to an NIL heavyweight and College Football Playoff contender.
But Rodriguez was the heart and soul of the No. 1 defense not named Ohio State. The former Virginia quarterback transferred to Texas Tech as a walk-on, switched to linebacker, and developed into an unstoppable force. If you flipped on the Red Raiders at all this season, Rodriguez was making a play.
He had 117 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, an FBS-leading seven forced fumbles, and four interceptions. He’s smart, tough, and plays with his hair on fire.
I would have liked to see Rodriguez, who finished fifth in the voting, be recognized in New York City.
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Thanks for reading my Heisman ballot breakdown. Keep an eye out for my colleague Bob Flounders’ picks this weekend!
https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2025/12/heisman-ballot-why-i-didnt-vote-for-indianas-fernando-mendoza-or-any-qb-mcgonigal.html