College football is basically a religion in some parts of the country. Every December, we all glue ourselves to the TV to watch a group of young men sit in a room in New York City, looking slightly uncomfortable in expensive suits, waiting for a bronze statue to change their lives forever. But honestly, focusing only on the winners is a mistake. When you look at the heisman finalists by year, you start to see the real story of how the game has evolved.
It's not just a list of names. It’s a roadmap of how we went from valuing "three yards and a cloud of dust" to obsessing over quarterbacks who can throw for 4,000 yards and run for 1,000.
The Drama of the Invitation List
You might think the Heisman Trust has always invited a handful of guys to the Big Apple, but that’s not true at all. Before 1982, there was no such thing as a "Heisman finalist." They just announced a winner, and that was that. The whole "finalist" concept started because TV networks realized they could turn the announcement into a primetime event.
Nowadays, since 2021, the Trust officially invites exactly four finalists. It used to be way more chaotic. In 1989, they actually invited eight players, though only four bothered to show up. It was basically the Wild West of awards ceremonies. The math used to be based on how close the point totals were; if there was a huge gap between third and fourth place, they’d just cut the list short.
Take 2008 for example. Tim Tebow finished third with a massive 1,575 points. The guy in fourth, Graham Harrell, only had 213. Because Tebow was so much further ahead, the committee basically told Harrell to stay home. Kinda harsh, right?
Heisman Finalists by Year: The Modern Era (2020–2025)
The last few years have been a wild ride. We've seen a shift from the "quarterback-only" award back to recognizing true unicorns.
2025: The Year of the Hoosier
Fernando Mendoza from Indiana took home the hardware this past December. He wasn't even on the radar for most people in August. But throwing for 41 touchdowns and leading Indiana to a historic season changed that. He beat out a tough field that included some heavy hitters from the SEC.
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2024: The Travis Hunter Show
If you didn't watch Colorado this year, you missed something special. Travis Hunter didn't just play; he lived on the field. He was the first true two-way star to win since Charles Woodson in 1997. He racked up over 1,100 receiving yards and snagged 5 interceptions. The 2024 finalists were:
- Travis Hunter (Colorado) - Winner
- Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) - Who nearly broke Barry Sanders' rushing record.
- Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)
- Cam Ward (Miami)
2023: Jayden Daniels’ Explosion
LSU has a knack for producing these late-bloomer superstars. Daniels put up video game numbers—nearly 5,000 total yards. He was joined in New York by Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix, and Marvin Harrison Jr. This was one of those years where any of the four could have won in a different era.
2022: Caleb Williams and the USC Revival
Caleb Williams was the obvious choice, but the finalist list was stacked with "tough guys." Max Duggan from TCU and Stetson Bennett from Georgia weren't the highest-rated recruits, but they won games. C.J. Stroud was there too, marking his second trip as a finalist without a win.
2021: The Bryce Young Landslide
Bryce Young became the first Alabama quarterback to win the trophy. It’s wild that it took that long for Bama to have a QB win it. He beat out Aidan Hutchinson, Kenny Pickett, and C.J. Stroud.
2020: The Pandemic Year
DeVonta Smith was a beast. In a year where everything was weird, he became the first wide receiver to win since 1991. He beat out three quarterbacks: Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones, and Kyle Trask.
Why Some Legends Never Won
Looking at the heisman finalists by year reveals some absolute crimes. Well, maybe not crimes, but definitely snubs.
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Peyton Manning in 1997 is the one everyone points to. He lost to Charles Woodson. Woodson was incredible, but Manning was... well, Manning. Then you have Adrian Peterson in 2004. He finished second as a true freshman. If he hadn't been a freshman, he probably wins it. Back then, voters were very old-school and didn't think kids should win the biggest award in the sport.
And what about Christian McCaffrey in 2015? He broke Barry Sanders' all-purpose yardage record and still lost to Derrick Henry. It basically sparked a massive debate about whether West Coast players get ignored because their games start too late for East Coast voters to stay awake. "East Coast Bias" is a real thing people talk about in these rooms.
Schools That Own the Green Room
If you want to be a Heisman finalist, go to Norman or Tuscaloosa. Honestly. Oklahoma and Alabama are currently tied for the most finalists in history with 11 each. Ohio State and Miami aren't far behind with 10.
It’s about the brand. If you put up big numbers at a school like Boise State—like Ashton Jeanty did in 2024—you have to be twice as good as the guy at Alabama just to get an invite. Jeanty had over 2,600 all-purpose yards and still finished second.
How the Voting Actually Works
It's a point system.
- First place gets 3 points.
- Second place gets 2 points.
- Third place gets 1 point.
There are 930 voters as of 2025. This includes past winners and media members from six different regions. They also let the fans have exactly one vote. One. Out of 930. It’s mostly a PR move, but hey, it makes us feel involved.
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The closest race ever? 2009. Mark Ingram beat out Toby Gerhart by only 28 points. That’s a razor-thin margin when you consider thousands of points are handed out. Ingram had the "Bama factor," while Gerhart was the workhorse at Stanford.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common misconception is that the Heisman goes to the "best" player. It doesn't. It goes to the player with the best narrative on the best team. If you play for a three-loss team, you’re basically disqualified unless you’re Lamar Jackson in 2016. He was so undeniably electric that voters couldn't ignore him, even though Louisville stumbled late in the season.
Also, being a finalist doesn't guarantee NFL success. For every Joe Burrow, there's a finalist who barely makes a practice squad. The award is about college dominance, not pro potential.
Actionable Insights for the Next Season
If you're trying to predict the next batch of finalists, stop looking at just the stats. Look at the schedule.
- Identify the "Heisman Moments": A player needs a signature play in a massive, televised game. Think Lamar Jackson's hurdle or Baker Mayfield's flag plant.
- Check the Win Column: If the team isn't in the Top 10 by November, their players likely won't be in New York.
- Follow the Narrative: Is there a "two-way player" like Travis Hunter? Is there a quarterback leading a "resurrected" program? Those stories win trophies.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the mid-November betting odds. The Vegas sharps usually sniff out the finalists before the general public does. You should also watch the "late-night" games. Players like Christian McCaffrey and Ashton Jeanty often get overlooked until their stats become too loud to ignore in the final two weeks of the season.