Vanderbilt running back Sedrick Alexander (28) celebrates with quarterback Diego Pavia (2) after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

NEW YORK — Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin are the finalists for the Heisman Trophy for the top player in college football.

The Heisman Trophy Trust announced the finalists Monday night, who are invited to New York for the award presentation Saturday night.

Love is fourth in the Bowl Subdivision in yards rushing (1,372), fifth in per-game average (114.33) and third with 18 rushing touchdowns for the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish, who missed on a College Football Playoff bid and opted not to play in a bowl game.

Mendoza has guided the Hoosiers to a No. 1 ranking and the top line of the 12-team CFP bracket, throwing for 2,980 yards and a national-best 33 touchdown passes while also running for six scores.

Pavia has thrown for a school-record 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns, and is the first Heisman finalist for the No. 13 Commodores.

Sayin led the Buckeyes to a No. 1 ranking for most of the season, throwing for 3,329 yards while tying for second nationally with 31 TD passes.

Elsewhere in football:

– Three Pitt players earned All-ACC recognition by The Associated Press on Monday afternoon.

Linebacker Kyle Louis earned first-team honors while linebacker Rasheem Biles and placekicker Trey Butkowski were each named to The AP’s second-team.

Louis compiled 81 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in his 11 starts as a redshirt junior. The East Orange, N.J. native logged double-digit tackles in four of his 11 starts and earned ACC Linebacker of the Week honors twice this season.

Despite missing three games due to injury, Biles finished the regular season as Pitt’s leader in tackles (85), tackles for loss (12) and defensive touchdowns (2). The Columbus, Ohio native also totaled 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Biles returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns this season, including a 75-yard return against Louisville which was the second-longest pick-six by a Pitt linebacker in the last three decades.

As a true freshman, Butkowski converted 19-of-22 field goals (86.4%) and 41-of-42 extra-point tries. The Lou Groza Award Semifinalist went on to set a Pitt record for consecutive field goals made, converting 16 in a row at one point this season. The Orlando, Fla. product was perfect from inside of 40 yards, going 13-of-13 on field goals. Butkowski finished first in the ACC in scoring (9.8) and second in field goals per game (1.90) in 2025.

– Tennessee coach Josh Heupel fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks, a year after the assistant was a finalist for the Broyles Award. Banks had been with Heupel all five seasons at Tennessee. Banks helped the Volunteers reach the 2024 College Football Playoff with a defense ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense. This season, the Volunteers dropped to 91st, allowing 28.7 points a game. The 8-4 Vols gave up at least 33 points in each loss. Linebackers coach William Inge will be the interim defensive coordinator in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 against Illinois in Nashville.