College Football: Heisman contenders entering Week 12

• Julian Sayin remains PFF’s Heisman pick: The Ohio State quarterback remains our Heisman pick going into Week 12.
  
• Jacob Rodriguez joins the top five: The Texas Tech linebacker comes in fifth for our Heisman rankings.
  
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Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

The race for the Heisman Trophy is heating up with only a few weeks left.

Here are my current Heisman rankings going into Week 12. Current betting odds to win the award are via DraftKings Sportsbook.

1. QB Julian Sayin, Ohio State (+165)

Sayin remains our Heisman pick heading into Week 12. The redshirt freshman’s 93.5 PFF grade is nearly three points higher than any other quarterback in the country. His 80.9% completion rate would be the all-time record if it stands, while his 86.3% adjusted completion rate would break the PFF record.

2. QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (+185)

Mendoza led a heroic touchdown drive in the final minutes to escape an upset bid from Penn State this past weekend. The California transfer posted an 87.0 passing grade overall in the win. His 124.4 passer rating on the season trails only Sayin among FBS signal-callers.

3. QB Ty Simpson, Alabama (+450)

Simpson remains in third following a solid showing in Alabama’s win over LSU, posting a 78.6 PFF grade. The redshirt junior has been especially lethal from a clean pocket this year, tossing 19 touchdowns (third) and only one interception.

4. QB Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (+1700)

Pavia was masterful in Vanderbilt’s overtime win over Auburn this past weekend, posting a season-high 91.4 PFF grade. His 90.9 grade for the year is second only to Sayin in the country, while his 676 rushing yards rank third in the country. 

5. LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech (Unlisted)

Texas Tech has arguably had the best defense in college football this year, and there are plenty of stars to choose from. We’ll give the nod to Rodriguez, though, as his 93.5 PFF grade is second among all players in the FBS. His 95.4 run-defense grade leads all linebackers, while his 92.7 coverage grade is also the best. Rodriguez’s seven forced fumbles are the most in America, while his three interceptions are second among linebackers.