Unlike in the pre-NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) days, whoever is handed the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night already is a millionaire.
Thanks to earnings from collectives and partnership deals, all four finalists — Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia — already have NIL valuations well over the $1 million mark.
Here’s a look at where the four Heisman Trophy finalists stand in NIL earnings:
FERNANDO MENDOZA, INDIANA, QB
It’s no surprise that Mendoza held the highest NIL valuation of the finalists at $2.6 million early in the season. His valuation has grown dramatically throughout the year as he and Indiana have become one of the top stories in college football. In his first season at Indiana, after transferring from California and picking up a sizable amount from Indiana’s collective, Mendoza has led the undefeated Hoosiers to their first Big Ten championship since 1945 and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. After signing a lucrative deal with Adidas on Dec. 3, it’s safe to put his NIL valuation above $3 million.
JULIAN SAYIN, OHIO STATE, QB
Until a loss to Indiana in the Big Ten championship, Ohio State spent much of the season as the nation’s No. 1 ranked team. Sayin rode that momentum. His $2.5 million NIL valuation comes largely from The Foundation (Ohio State’s collective) and a significant partnership with Thrive, which has numerous housing complexes in the Columbus area. Sayin also has deals with EA Sports and Panini.
DIEGO PAVIA, VANDERBILT, QB
Much like Mendoza, this undersized quarterback (generously listed at 6-foot, 207 pounds) is using a great side story to boost his NIL earnings. Since transferring from New Mexico State prior to the 2024 season, Pavia has put up big numbers in Nashville while helping Vanderbilt to a 10-2 record, including wins over LSU, Missouri, and Tennessee, and a spot in the New Year’s Eve ReliaQuest Bowl against Iowa. Pavia reportedly turned down a more lucrative transfer offer from another SEC school, and his choice to stay in Nashville has paid off. With money from Vanderbilt’s collective and partnerships including AutoPro and Blanco Clothing, Pavia’s NIL valuation sits around $2.5 million.
Pavia, who spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons at New Mexico Military Institute, also could influence future earning power for junior-college athletes. He is involved in a lawsuit against the NCAA, arguing that counting junior-college years against his five-year eligibility clock limits his NIL earnings and violates antitrust laws. He received an injunction that allowed him to play this season.
JEREMIYAH LOVE, NOTRE DAME, RB
Love reportedly turned down an offer of around $4 million to transfer to Georgia before the season. He has had another huge year in South Bend, rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. Much of his $1.5 million NIL valuation comes from a deal he signed with Samsung.
Learn More About the NIL Landscape
Name, Image, and Likeness plays an increasing role in college sports, and understanding how it works often requires more than individual articles or news updates.
RallyFuel is a platform focused on NIL-related topics across college athletics. It brings together information about athletes, NIL activity, and the broader structure behind modern college sports, helping readers explore the topic in more depth.
Leave a Comment