B/R's 2025 Heisman Trophy Rankings after Week 7

At the halfway point of the 2025 college football campaign, the Heisman Trophy race is significantly different than the preseason list.

Yes, a few contenders are still here. Miami quarterback Carson Beck has thrived at his new home, while Alabama signal-caller Ty Simpson has mostly lived up to his billing. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith has been solid, too.

Beyond them, however, it's largely a revamped group.

And with every passing week, the résumés of Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed and others keep getting better.

The tiers are subjective, yet based on historical voting trends, such as individual production and team success.

Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia

Hanging on by a thread, Gunner Stockton had a quiet evening in a win at Auburn. He threw for 217 yards at just 5.9 per attempt, rushing for 26 yards and scoring once. His résumé needs a boost, which is possible as 5-1 UGA hosts Ole Miss this weekend.

Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech

In shades of 2001 Eric Crouch, are we going to see a run-heavy QB—not from a service academy—in the thick of a Heisman race? Haynes King is making a compelling case, leading Georgia Tech to a 6-0 start. He's rushed for 440 yards and nine touchdowns, adding 971 yards with four scores through the air.

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Ho-hum, another pair of touchdowns for Jeremiyah Love. Notre Dame cruised past North Carolina State as he picked up 86 yards on the ground. His production—690 scrimmage yards and 11 scores—is starting to lag. A breakout game against No. 20 USC this weekend would be especially helpful.

Jayden Maiava, QB, USC

The last-second loss to Illinois put a dent in his candidacy, but a 25-of-32 performance to beat a then-ranked Michigan team has propped up Jayden Maiava. Nationally, he's first in yards per attempt (10.8) and third in yards per game (308.7) with 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions. The upcoming trip to No. 13 Notre Dame is another key opportunity for him.

Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt

Idle in Week 6, Diego Pavia returns to the field against LSU on Saturday. Vandy's struggles in the loss to Alabama have turned this SEC contest into a make-or-break kind of moment for the dual-threat QB.

CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame

Another part of Jeremiyah Love's problem? CJ Carr is playing really well. He diced up the NC State defense for 342 yards with two scores, setting up Notre Dame's showdown with USC. Carr is second in the country at 10.3 yards per attempt.

Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State

Still the national leader in completion percentage (78.4), Julian Sayin helped Ohio State dispatch then-ranked Illinois on the road in Week 7. The redshirt freshman was again more reliable than great—166 yards at 6.1 per attempt with two touchdowns—but he didn't make any major mistakes as the Buckeyes jumped to 6-0. Ohio State travels to Wisconsin this Saturday.

Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

Understand what I am saying, not what I'm not: Jeremiah Smith lacks Heisman-level production. After tallying five catches for 42 yards and a score at Illinois, he's on pace for about 80 receptions, 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. He remains the best receiver in the country. To win this award, though, he needs a few explosive games to bulk up the box score.

Demond Williams Jr., QB, Washington

When your stat line compares favorably to peak Lamar Jackson, you're doing fine. Demond Williams Jr. obliterated Rutgers with 402 passing yards, 136 rushing and four touchdowns in a 38-19 victory. That showing pushed him past 2,000 total yards on the season as UW, which next heads to Michigan, improved to 5-1.

Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss

The important part: Ole Miss won. But, whew, a 24-21 win over Washington State was unexpectedly close. Wazzu held Trinidad Chambliss to 37 non-sack rushing yards, and he recovered from a slow start to complete 21-of-27 throws for 253 yards with three total scores. Chambliss needs an immediate bounce-back moment since the Rebels play at Georgia this weekend.

Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

Somewhat similarly, there's no time for Dante Moore to wallow in a subpar, two-interception day during the Ducks' loss to Indiana. Rutgers is not Georgia, obviously, but Oregon needs to handle this cross-country trip and stick in the Big Ten race. Moore is a key piece of that equation.

Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M

Marcel Reed hit 16-of-20 throws for 234 yards, scampered for 37 and accounted for a pair of touchdowns in a 34-17 win over Florida. Cool. Texas A&M is 6-0. Great. And now, the Aggies have a three-games-in-four-weeks stretch at Arkansas, at LSU and at Missouri. Are they a true SEC contender? Should we elevate Reed in the Heisman conversation? We're about to find out.

Joey Aguilar, QB, Tennessee

Reed is aiming to one-up Joey Aguilar, who threw for a modest 221 yards and rushed for a season-high 59 yards in a 34-31 triumph over Arkansas last weekend. Aguilar has been more solid than superb lately, and a trip to sixth-ranked, rival Alabama is destined to shape his perception moving forward.

Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Truly, it's remarkable how much opinions have changed since Florida State stunned Alabama in Week 1. Ty Simpson struggled in that loss, but he's been fantastic lately. Missouri tested him in Week 7, yet he made a few clutch throws and finished with 200 yards, three scores and zero interceptions in a 27-24 victory. Bama welcomes—if that's the correct word—rival Tennessee to town in Week 8.

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Hope you're ready for "Fernando Mendoza, Heisman finalist" in December. That has become a strong possibility after IU's 30-20 upset at Oregon. He didn't blow up the box score with 246 yards and one touchdown, but his season-long production is excellent and the Hoosiers are 6-0. They will try to avoid a letdown at home against Michigan State this Saturday.

Carson Beck, QB, Miami

Following the impressive win at Florida State, Carson Beck and the Hurricanes had an idle weekend. They're back in Week 8 for a Friday night affair opposite Louisville, which has been a thorn for Mario Cristobal in recent years. Beck is tasked with navigating a UL defense that has ceded only 5.8 yards per pass attempt.