The stage is set for Dante Moore to make a big move in the Heisman race, or fall out of it.
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza rocketed up the leaderboard in Week 4 following the Hoosiers' 63-10 dismantling of Illinois. Mendoza completed 21-23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns, 11.6 yards per pass attempt.
Heisman voters (and oddsmakers) love a gaudy stat line they can readily understand, and Heisman contention is a game of momentum.
From Fanduel Sportsbook, here are the odds leaders with some marquee games coming up in Week 5:
2025 Heisman Odds
Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) +800
John Mateer (Oklahoma) +900
Carson Beck (Miami) +1300
Dante Moore (Oregon) +1300
Gunner Stockton (Georgia) +1400
Josh Hoover (TCU) +1400
Joey Aguilar (Tennessee) +1400
Marcel Reed (Texas A&M) +1500
Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) +1500
Julian Sayin (Ohio State) +1600
The Buckeyes' Sayin and Smith travel to Washington Saturday, a matchup of undefeated teams at 12:30 p.m. PT on CBS. Stockton and Georgia host Alabama in primetime on ABC. The Huskies Jonah Coleman and Demond Williams have a chance to creep on to the leaderboard with an upset and a big performance.
Mendoza and Indiana prep for a road game at 3-1 Iowa, a battle between the Cal transfer and a strong Hawkeye defense with dual threat quarterback Mark Gronowski trying to build off a strong performance against Rutgers, rallying his team with three rushing touchdowns, two in the fourth quarter.
Clutch performances in TV games are the surest way to rise in the Heisman race. After passing for 217 yards and a touchdown in a 24-17 win over No. 22 Auburn, Mateer and Oklahoma have the week off-- they don't play again until October 4, a home game against Kent State. That's a good way to be forgotten in what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world of The Stiff-Arm Trophy.
Moore, however, has a prime opportunity. He faces a No. 6 at No. 2 showdown in front of a White Out crowd of 106,000 and a ferocious pressure defense, a daunting challenge. If he plays his best game in his first true big game and road test, his draft stock and Heisman chances soar.
If the Ducks come up short or the Penn State pressure overwhelms him (or his offensive line falters against an athletic, quick front seven) the narrative will be that he's a year away and ought to stay in school to get more starts before moving on to pro football.
The Heisman isn't the focus for Moore or the Ducks, but it's a crossroads in his chances to make the final four in New York.
Dante Moore Week 4 NFL throw highlight reel.
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) September 21, 2025
Pinpoint passer. pic.twitter.com/HzX3vezXA0
The Heisman thrives on big games and big moments. ESPN College GameDay will be in town, and the game will be hyped as a matchup between Moore and Drew Allar, two quarterbacks with great potential, arm talent and supposed question marks. The defenses will be heard from too.