NEW YORK — Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s dynamic quarterback, captured college football’s highest honor on Saturday night, winning the 2025 Heisman Trophy...
Fernando Mendoza Makes Heisman History — Indiana QB Leads Hoosiers to No. 1, Rose Bowl and National Spotlight
NEW YORK — Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s dynamic quarterback, captured college football’s highest honor on Saturday night, winning the 2025 Heisman Trophy and becoming the first Hoosier to win the award since its inception in 1935.
Heisman lands in Bloomington
Fernando Mendoza finished with 2,362 points and 643 first-place votes, outpacing finalists Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia (1,435 points), Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love (719 points) and Ohio State QB Julian Sayin (432 points). Mendoza finished first in all six Heisman regions—the first player to sweep every region since Caleb Williams in 2022—and was named on 95.16% of all ballots.
Breakout season and key statistics
Mendoza, a redshirt junior and first-year starter after transferring from California, guided Indiana to its first No. 1 ranking and the top seed in the 12-team College Football bracket. He threw for 2,980 yards and led the nation with 33 touchdown passes while adding six rushing touchdowns. Indiana finished the regular season unbeaten and will open the College Football Playoff quarterfinals in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
“It's such an honor to be mentioned with these guys. It’s really a credit to our team. It’s a team award.” — Fernando Mendoza
His leadership helped an offense that shattered Indiana program records for touchdowns and points, continuing last year’s surprise run to the CFP.
Heisman voting and historical significance
Mendoza’s Heisman victory was decisive. He tied Marcus Mariota (2014) for the second-highest percentage of ballots (95.16%) and captured 84.6% of total possible points—the seventh-highest mark in Heisman history. Mendoza is the 43rd quarterback to win the Heisman and only the second winner of Latin American descent; Jim Plunkett was the first in 1970. A Miami native with grandparents from Cuba, Mendoza emphasized the role of family and community in his journey.
A milestone for Indiana football
This is Indiana’s first Heisman winner and only the program’s second Heisman finalist; Anthony Thompson finished as runner-up in 1989. Mendoza is the seventh Indiana player to finish in the top 10 of Heisman balloting and continues a rare run of consecutive top-10 finishes for the Hoosiers—the team also had QB Kurtis Rourke finish ninth last season.
Transfer-portal trend continues
Mendoza’s rise highlights a broader college football trend: the transfer portal’s growing impact. He is the seventh transfer to win the Heisman in the last nine years. Mendoza’s success and Diego Pavia’s status as a finalist after playing at three schools underscore how transfer movement can reshape programs and individual careers.
Awards sweep and postseason implications
Before the Heisman ceremony, Mendoza had already collected several major awards: Associated Press Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien Award. Jeremiyah Love took home the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s top running back.
What’s next: Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff
Indiana will play a CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Mendoza and the Hoosiers enter the postseason as the last unbeaten team in major college football, carrying both momentum and national attention. The Heisman win raises expectations for Indiana’s playoff run and adds pressure for Mendoza to translate individual accolades into team success on college football’s biggest stage.
Final perspective
Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman victory is a landmark moment for Indiana football—celebrating individual excellence, program-first history and the continuing influence of the transfer portal in college football. As the Hoosiers head to Pasadena, Mendoza’s performance will be a focal point for fans and analysts watching whether a Heisman winner can also deliver a championship-caliber postseason.