The regular season has finally come to an end, and this means one thing: The Heisman Trophy ceremony is looming among us.
As we all know, the race for the most prestigious award in all college football is knotted between two people: Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. Both quarterbacks will match up against each other in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday in a game that will have much bearing on whoever wins the award.
Unfortunately, their race for the Heisman has somewhat taken our attention away from other stars, all deserving of the award in my eyes. This week, Lato’s Lens is taking a different route: Here are some of college football’s Heisman snubs — players that certainly won’t win the award but are deserving to be in the conversation.
Drew Mestemaker, Quarterback (North Texas)
The North Texas Mean Green are 11-1 going into the American Conference Championship game this weekend against Tulane. They’re also led by a quarterback who’s never played a snap of varsity high school football: Drew Mestemaker.
His stats are insane.
He’s completed 271 of 382 passes for a nation-leading 3,835 yards, accounting for 29 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Aside from the video-game numbers he’s put up, Mestemaker was sacked only 13 times, showcasing A-level elusiveness in the pocket.
The 6-foot-4 gunslinger is poised for a long professional career, and it would be silly not to bring up his name during the Heisman Trophy race; and if the Mean Green can sneak into the College Football Playoff, opposing secondaries are in for a wild ride.
Jeremiyah Love, Running Back (Notre Dame)
It’s not often that a running back is considered for the award, but with the season that Jeremiyah Love is having for the Fightin’ Irish, he’s surely made a convincing case.
Love is the focal point of a Notre Dame offense that scores 41.8 points per game. He’s rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns on 199 carries, averaging an astounding 6.9 yards a carry. He’s also displayed the ability to make plays in space through check-downs and screen passes, adding another three touchdowns and 280 yards through the air.
He was an integral part of Notre Dame’s run to the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship Game last season. Though they couldn’t quite finish the job against eventual champion Ohio State, the Irish are back and threatening to make another run deep into the tournament.
Joe Fagnano, Quarterback (UConn)
There wasn’t a more exciting non-Power Four football team to watch this season than the 2025 UConn Huskies, who won nine games for the second season in a row. Despite the departure of head coach Jim Mora (a sad time for UConn Huskies faithful) after their legendary season, seventh-year signal-caller Joe Fagnano’s 2025 campaign is Heisman worthy.
The Williamsport, Pa., native is best known throughout the college football world for having thrown one singular interception, the lowest by any NCAA Division I quarterback. This statistic is complemented by his 3,441 passing yards and 28 touchdowns, adding another three scores on the ground.
His heroics for what used to be the worst college football team in the country will never be forgotten, and who knows: If UConn had simply won three of their overtime losses, Fagnano’s résumé would be almost impossible for Heisman Trophy voters to pass up.
Jacob Rodriguez, Linebacker (Texas Tech)
Aside from Travis Hunter (who starred on both sides of the ball for Colorado last season), defensive Heisman Trophy winners are few and far between, the last one being Charles Woodson in 1997.
But Jacob Rodriguez, a bone-crushing linebacker from Texas Tech, has made a compelling case to break the mold, despite all odds stacking against his favor.
Recently starring on offense in a number of wildcat sets for the No. 5 Red Raiders, the linebacker ranks third in the Big 12 with 104 total tackles, including 10 for a loss and four interceptions. Notably known for his glaring mustache, Rodriguez is the centerpiece of a Texas Tech defense that allowed only 11.25 points per game.
It’s highly unlikely that Rodriguez will finish within even the top five of the Heisman standings, but his season demands recognition as one of the best, if not the best, linebackers in America.