2025 Heisman Trophy: Predicting finalists, winner for College Football's top award

The 2025 college football season is fast approaching and with it, the final projections for a variety of postseason awards and finishes are in. On3’s JD PicKell recently picked the Heisman Trophy finalists for the season.

Sure, it’s pretty well in advance of any games being played. But that’s the fun nature of making predictions, right? Some of PicKell’s list may pan out and some may not.

So let’s dive into the four players that PicKell tabbed as this year’s Heisman Trophy finalists. Then, we’ll get to his projected winner.

QB Dante Moore, Oregon

Oregon and coach Dan Lanning produced a Heisman Trophy finalist last year in quarterback Dillon Gabriel. And JD PicKell is picking the Ducks to turn right back around and produce another this year. That’s the benefit of continuity in a system.

For his part, Moore arrived at Oregon in 2024 after transferring in from UCLA. He’s a former five-star-plus recruit, checking in as the No. 3 overall prospect — and No. 2 quarterback — in the 2023 class. He played only 29 offensive snaps in 2024, though, so this is a huge projection by PicKell. There’s a lot left to prove.

QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

Sellers is a good deal more proven than Moore going into the 2025 season, having spent virtually all of last year as South Carolina’s starter. Even with an injury that limited him some early in the year, Sellers threw for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns, while running for 674 yards and seven scores.

The challenge for Sellers will be adapting to some new skill position personnel. The Gamecocks were a fairly veteran bunch last year. They’ll be younger this fall, which cuts two ways for Sellers as a potential Heisman Trophy finalist. First, he’ll have more responsibility and thus more opportunity. Second, it could challenge him more and make things a little tougher.

QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

The most experienced player on PicKell’s list of projected Heisman Trophy finalists, Nussmeier is coming off a monster season with the Tigers. Still, he had a stretch with several turnovers that proved very costly to LSU’s playoff ambitions. That will have to get cleaned up this fall.

Still, from a sheer numbers standpoint, this pick is pretty obvious. Nussmeier threw for 4,052 yards and 29 scores, against 12 interceptions. He also ran for three touchdowns. If he can expand on those numbers even a little he’s going to be pretty close to a lock to make it to New York City.

WINNER – WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

And the pick to win this year’s Heisman Trophy, according to JD PicKell, is the talented receiver from Ohio State. Smith had an absolutely monster year as a true freshman in 2024, setting records virtually every week toward the second half of the season.

Many NFL Draft analysts and talent scouts have claimed he’s already starting caliber in the NFL; he just has to wait out his time in college first. While doing so, he’s going to have the chance to win some major awards like the Heisman Trophy. Smith tallied 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns receiving last year, while also adding another rushing. Bump those numbers up a touch and, given his name recognition already, he’ll definitely be in the mix to win the big one.