Miami, Florida – The season continues to advance towards its exciting conclusion, and once again, there’s movement on the Lemon City Live Heisman Watchlist. The top-ranked teams and big powers were largely victorious, making it a mostly predictable weekend. However, if one were looking for chaos, one need only look at the ACC. Fourteenth-ranked Virginia fell to Wake Forest 16-9 while California overcame No. 15 Louisville in a gutsy 29-26 overtime win. These two outcomes have thrown significant anarchy into the conference championship. No doubt the Miami Hurricanes (and others) were big beneficiaries, as some claim that the ACC will now be a one-bid conference for the CFP. With how wild the season has been, I take it with a grain of salt. People talk, it doesn’t mean anything. Not yet.
As far as the Heisman Watchlist is concerned, for the first time in weeks, there’s relative stability. There are no new faces, and everyone who made it to the last edition remained, albeit in a different position. Some put up better statements than others, with the strength of their opponents a factor. Let’s check out the group.
Marcel Reed
MARCEL REED FOR HEISMAN pic.twitter.com/7YS4aaoqsu
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) October 26, 2025
Previous Ranking: 2
The Aggies quarterback kept his team perfect, throwing for 221 yards and two TDs in the 38-17 win over No. 22 Missouri. Marcel Reed faced the strongest opponent of the five and delivered a good performance backed by a stingy defense in a contest that became out of reach by the third quarter. Recording 2,193 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and six interceptions, Reed faces South Carolina next.
Fernando Mendoza
His HEISMENDOZA moment 🏆👀
Relive @indianafootball's game-winning drive lead by Fernando Mendoza 🔥 pic.twitter.com/StuhB4724R
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 8, 2025
Previous Ranking: 4
Penn State pushed second-ranked Indiana to the brink, but Fernando Mendoza produced a Heisman moment, hitting wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. for the game-winning touchdown with 36 seconds left. Cooper kept his feet in right at the edge of the endzone in a tremendous show of raw athleticism, keeping the Hoosiers undefeated. Mendoza totaled 218 passing yards, including a TD in the air, complemented by another on the ground, marred by a pick and a fumble. The numbers aren’t sexy, although the game-winning pass was.
Julian Sayin
Julian Sayin is the best QB in college football and it’s not even close
pic.twitter.com/Iwm6YEEI2m— Max Chadwick (@CFBMaxChadwick) November 8, 2025
Previous Ranking: 1
It happened again. Julian Sayin did all right against Purdue, torching them for 303 yards. However, he only scored once and threw one interception. Those above did better and with higher-quality opposition. This is by no means a knock on Sayin, the kid is phenomenal, tallying 2,491 yards and 24 TDs over four INTs. Nothing is guaranteed, and with three weeks left, many are commencing their final push. Next up is UCLA.
Diego Pavia
🏈 SEC Offensive Player of the Week | WK 11
⚓️ Diego Pavia, @VandyFootball #SECFB | presented by @Allstate pic.twitter.com/TzxBJx7YXf
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) November 10, 2025
Previous Ranking: 5
If you’re looking for sexy numbers, you’ve found them with Diego Pavia. Racking up 377 passing yards, three touchdowns, and a rushing TD that is impressively reinforced with 112 rushing yards, Pavia manhandled Auburn to move up a spot. Despite some having him lower in the race, the Vandy QB has done a lot lately to garner consideration among the top.
Ty Simpson
Watch the rip through, reset and anticipation from under-center by Ty Simpson.
Exceptional. pic.twitter.com/U9yXTd1mZU
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) November 9, 2025
Previous Ranking: 3
When it comes to Alabama’s victory over LSU, Ty Simpson put up OK numbers. Simpson accumulated 277 yards and a TD, which is countered by a lost fumble. I nearly removed him in favor of a certain ACC quarterback that’s been knocking on the door for weeks now. It might still happen. A disastrous game versus Oklahoma might tip the scales.
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