ESPN analyst ranks Diego Pavia No. 1 Heisman Trophy contender after Week 9
By David Wasson
Published:
ESPN football analyst Dan Orlovsky checked in Sunday with his Heisman Trophy contenders after Week 9 play, with a surprising name atop the list.
The former NFL journeyman quarterback, who likely votes for the Heisman, has Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia atop his five-player list. Pavia has led the 10th-ranked Commodores to another stunning season and into College Football Playoff consideration, but his stats against SEC teams are lackluster – combining for just 664 yards and 4 touchdowns against South Carolina, Alabama, LSU and Missouri.
Orlovsky ranks Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King behind Pavia at No. 2 after King passed for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns against Syracuse in Week 9. The analyst then ranks Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 3 following a 168-yard, 3-touchdown effort against UCLA.
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, who along with the Buckeyes was idle in Week 9, is Orlovsky’s No. 4 Heisman selection. And Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson checks in at No. 5 following a 253-yard, 2-touchdown performance against South Carolina.
The 2025 Heisman Trophy ceremony will take place Saturday, Dec. 13 from the Lincoln Center in New York and will air on ABC – the first time the Heisman will be awarded on network television since 1993.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
