Fernando Mendoza becomes first Indiana player to win Heisman Trophy
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Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza became the first Hoosier to win the coveted Heisman Trophy, college football’s most prestigious award.
Mendoza received 2,362 first-place votes, beating Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (1,435 votes), Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love (719 votes) and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (432 votes).
Mendoza led the Hoosiers to their first No. 1 ranking and the top spot in the 12-team College Football rankings, throwing for 2,980 yards and a national-best 33 touchdowns while also rushing for six scores. Indiana, the last undefeated team in college football, will play in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl on January 1.
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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza runs off the field after a game against Wisconsin on Nov. 15, 2025 in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mendoza, the Hoosiers’ first-year starter after transferring from California, spearheaded an offense that surpassed program records for goals set and points during last season’s surprise run to the CFP.
The redshirt junior, once lightly recruited at Miami, became the second Heisman finalist in school history after Anthony Thompson, the runner-up in 1989. The cup was founded in 1935.
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Mendoza became the seventh Indiana player to finish in the top 10 in Heisman voting, marking another first in program history to have back-to-back players finish in the top 10. Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke was ninth last year.
Quarterbacks have won the Heisman four of the past five years, while Colorado’s Travis Hunter, who plays wide receiver and cornerback, won last season.
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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza shoots before a game against Wisconsin on Nov. 15, 2025 in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The Heisman Trophy presentation came after a series of awards were presented. Mendoza was named the Associated Press’ player of the year earlier this week and received the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien awards on Friday night, while Love won the Doak Walker Award.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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