**Excerpt:** Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has become the first player from Indiana University to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy, achieving a historic milestone for the program.
Key Points:
– Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy, marking the first time an Indiana Hoosier has received the award.
– He secured 2,362 first-place votes, outpacing competitors Diego Pavia, Jeremiyah Love, and Julian Sayin.
– Mendoza threw for 2,980 yards and a national-best 33 touchdown passes this season.
– Indiana is the last unbeaten team in major college football and is set to play in the Rose Bowl on January 1.
– Mendoza is the second Indiana player to become a Heisman finalist, following Anthony Thompson in 1989.
Mendoza’s Historic Achievement
On December 13, 2025, quarterback Fernando Mendoza of Indiana University made history by winning the Heisman Trophy. This achievement marks a significant milestone, as he is the first player from the university to earn college football’s most prestigious award since its inception in 1935.
Voting Results
Mendoza garnered a total of 2,362 first-place votes. He outperformed Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, who received 1,435 votes, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love with 719 votes, and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, who had 432 votes.
Season Performance
This season, Mendoza led the Hoosiers to their first-ever No. 1 ranking and the top seed in the College Football Playoff bracket. He amassed 2,980 passing yards and recorded an impressive 33 touchdown passes, alongside six rushing touchdowns. Indiana remains the last unbeaten team in major college football and is scheduled to compete in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl on January 1.
Mendoza’s Background
Mendoza is a redshirt junior and a first-year starter for Indiana after transferring from California. He has played a pivotal role in an offense that has broken program records for touchdowns and points, following a successful run last season that led to the College Football Playoff.
Program Milestones
With this award, Mendoza becomes only the second player in Indiana history to be a Heisman finalist, joining Anthony Thompson, who finished as a runner-up in 1989. Mendoza’s achievement also marks another first for the program, as it now boasts back-to-back players in the top 10 of Heisman voting, following quarterback Kurtis Rourke’s ninth-place finish last year.
In recent years, quarterbacks have dominated the Heisman Trophy, winning four of the last five awards, with Colorado’s Travis Hunter breaking the trend last season as a two-way player.
Leave a Reply