1. Colton Joseph – QB, Notre Dame (↑ from #2)
3,153 passing yards | 32 TDs | 4 INTs | 404 rushing yards
Colton Joseph moves into the top spot this week, overtaking Grayson Wilson and seizing control of the Heisman race at the most critical point of the season. His rise is about more than just numbers — it’s about timing.
Joseph has delivered his best football in the heart of Notre Dame’s push for the No. 1 ranking. He continues to blend efficiency with explosiveness, carving defenses from the pocket while adding timely damage with his legs. Crossing the 400-yard rushing mark adds another dimension to his résumé, separating him from other pure passers.
What truly boosts Joseph’s candidacy is context. He’s doing this as the quarterback of the top-ranked team in the nation, week after week answering the pressure that comes with that target on his back. If Notre Dame finishes strong, Joseph will be extremely difficult to unseat.
Why he’s up:
- Took over the No. 1 team in the country
- Career-best rushing production
- Elite performance when national spotlight is brightest
2. Dylan Raiola – QB, Nebraska (↑ from #3)
3,521 passing yards | 32 TDs | 0 INTs | 365 rushing yards
Dylan Raiola continues his relentless climb and now sits firmly at No. 2. If not for Joseph’s late surge, Raiola might be the favorite. His defining trait remains untouched: zero interceptions.
At this stage of the season, that statistic alone is jaw-dropping. Raiola has paired flawless decision-making with elite production, eclipsing 3,500 passing yards while quietly adding significant rushing value. He’s not flashy — he’s surgical.
Nebraska’s sustained success keeps Raiola squarely in the race, and if chaos strikes above him, he could absolutely finish the season as the Heisman winner. He’s the safest quarterback in the country, and voters are taking notice.
Why he’s up:
- Still zero interceptions
- Career-high passing totals
- Nebraska remains firmly in contention
3. Grayson Wilson – QB, USF (↓ from #1)
4,077 passing yards | 33 TDs | 2 INTs | 493 rushing yards
Despite slipping from first to third, Grayson Wilson remains very much alive in the Heisman race. In fact, from a pure statistical standpoint, he may still be the most productive player in the nation.
Wilson has now crossed 4,000 passing yards and nearly 500 rushing yards — a staggering dual-threat profile. However, as the race tightens, team context has begun to matter more. While Wilson continues to post massive numbers, USF’s position relative to the national title picture has allowed others to close the gap.
That said, Wilson is far from out of it. A monster finish or signature moment could easily vault him back into the lead.
Why he’s down:
- Others surged late while he maintained pace
- Team narrative beginning to matter more
- Still producing at an elite level
4. AK Dear – RB, Notre Dame (—)
1,446 rushing yards | 21 rushing TDs | 149 receiving yards
AK Dear holds steady at No. 4, but his case is strengthening by the week. In a quarterback-dominated race, Dear stands as the premier non-QB candidate — and perhaps the most valuable player on Notre Dame’s roster.
With 21 rushing touchdowns and nearly 1,500 yards on the ground, Dear has been the engine behind the Irish offense. His consistency, physicality, and nose for the end zone have turned close games into comfortable wins.
The challenge for Dear remains positional bias. Running backs must be undeniably dominant to break through, and while he’s close, he likely needs a historic final stretch or a defining performance in a marquee game to crack the top two.
Why he’s steady:
- Elite touchdown production
- Playing for the No. 1 team
- Best RB résumé in the country
5. Eli Holstein – QB, TCU (NEW)
2,818 passing yards | 24 TDs | 6 INTs | 620 rushing yards
A new face enters the Heisman leaderboard in Week 13, and it’s Eli Holstein. The TCU quarterback bursts onto the scene thanks to his unique production profile — particularly his elite rushing output at the position.
Holstein’s 620 rushing yards are among the highest for any quarterback nationally, making him a nightmare for defenses in both designed runs and broken plays. While his passing numbers trail the top three, his total offensive impact cannot be ignored.
His inclusion underscores how wide open the race remains. If Holstein closes the season with signature performances, he could climb even higher.
Why he’s in:
- Exceptional rushing production for a QB
- Dual-threat impact weekly
- TCU’s strong positioning late in the season
What These Final Weeks Mean
At this stage, the Heisman race is no longer about potential — it’s about moments.
- Can Colton Joseph continue leading Notre Dame under playoff pressure?
- Will Dylan Raiola maintain perfection with zero interceptions?
- Can Grayson Wilson deliver a signature performance that outweighs team narrative?
- Does AK Dear have a monster game that forces voters to reconsider positional bias?
- Can Eli Holstein shock the field with a late-season surge?
Every drive, every nationally televised matchup, and every late-game decision will shape the final ballots. History shows voters remember how players finish — not how they started.
With conference titles and playoff berths looming, the Heisman Trophy is still very much up for grabs. The next two weeks won’t just decide championships — they’ll decide legacies.
