Being good isn’t always enough, just ask Miami quarterback Carson Beck. Despite leading Miami to a 26-7 victory over Florida in Week 4, the Hurricanes’ signal-caller did his job, but Beck’s standing in the Heisman Trophy standings slipped. While Miami mainly relied on its defense and rushing attack to win, he went 17 for 30 for 160 yards with an interception. Beck’s odds actually drifted to +1,000 after he had a post-Week 3 lead of +825, showing that stats and wins by themselves don’t always tell the whole story. But between Beck and Mateer is another contender.

John Mateer of Oklahoma made sure that everyone was watching him. Throwing for 271 yards and a touchdown and adding 29 yards and another score on the ground, the dual-threat junior led the Sooners to a closely contested 24-17 victory over No. 22 Auburn. Mateer has risen above Beck to the top of the Heisman odds at +700 thanks to his ability to remain composed under pressure and make big plays at crucial times. Mateer proves that the Sooners’ quarterback issue from the previous season is finally resolved as Oklahoma jumps out to a 4-0 start and has already defeated two ranked opponents.

While Mateer is turning heads in Oklahoma, the Heisman race remains crowded, with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza making waves of his own near the top of the odds. In a recent post on X by FanDuel Sportsbook wrote “Fernando Mendoza is now second in odds to win the 2025 Heisman. Can he become the first Hoosier to win the award?” The Indiana QB  is off to a great start in 2025, and college football is starting to take notice. He has completed 76 of 99 passes for 975 yards, 14 touchdowns, and zero interceptions in four games, which is enough to light up any stat sheet. Although challenging games against Iowa, Oregon, and Penn State will undoubtedly test the limits, even projecting that pace over a 12-game season puts him at almost 3,900 yards and 56 touchdowns. 

Following a dull first week, Mendoza has been drawing attention ever since. His 21-for-23, 267-yard, five-touchdown explosion against Illinois, in particular, demonstrated his abilities on the national stage. He is currently the favorite at +1000 according to FanDuel, but some people rank him as the runner-up, trailing only Oklahoma’s John Mateer. Given that Indiana has never produced a Heisman winner, the closest one in the race was Anthony Thompson in 1989.

The California transfer is flourishing in Indiana’s system because it offers him the time and space he didn’t have at Cal thanks to its potent offensive line and skilled receivers. He has already demonstrated his ability to dominate games against ranked opponents, and there is a genuine possibility that he will continue to rise in the Heisman odds with upcoming big-name matches. NFL scouts and college football fans alike are keeping an eye on every throw as Mendoza is currently 4-0 with a 206.16 passer rating, 14 touchdowns, zero picks, and even a few rushing scores. Indiana may finally have a Heisman-caliber star to support if he maintains this pace. While Mendoza is making waves in Indiana, the Heisman conversation doesn’t stop there other quarterbacks are also staking their claim.

Oregon QB holds strong at no. 4 in Heisman Odds

Even though he hasn’t yet secured the top spot, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is quietly establishing himself as one of the Heisman front-runners. Against Oregon State on Saturday, the Ducks’ signal-caller put on a show, throwing for a career-high four touchdowns and adding to his season-long total of almost 1,000 yards passing with 11 touchdowns and just one interception. Moore has maintained a position in the top five of Heisman odds for the fourth consecutive week, demonstrating consistency and efficiency that is difficult to overlook.

But what happens next might impact Moore’s chances of winning the Heisman. His season may be defined by the crucial road test he faces in Week 5 against the second-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. Similar to how Fernando Mendoza of Indiana dominated a top-10 opponent last week, Moore will have to perform well in a highly anticipated, nationally broadcast match if he hopes to get closer to the trophy. A strong performance might push him to the top and a poor performance could quickly knock him off the top list.

Moore has shown in four games that he can sling the ball, guard it, and make big plays when it counts. In just five weeks of the college football season, Moore has the potential to become the fifth new Heisman odds leader if Oregon continues to win and he performs well against Penn State. He is indeed quietly building a career that puts him in Heisman conversations week after week. The story will be revealed in the upcoming games, and Moore is aware that the spotlight will be on him.