Heisman Trophy predictions: Indiana alum drums up support for Fernando Mendoza
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Indiana Hoosiers point guard Fernando Mendoza entered the fray as one of the best players in the country this season as the Big Ten school prepared to finish the regular season undefeated.
The Cal transfer, who spent his first season at Indiana, has 2,641 passing yards and is tied for the nation’s lead with 30 touchdown passes. According to FOX Sports, they are among the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy this year with the best odds against Purdue in the final game of the regular season.
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Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) runs with the ball in the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 8, 2025. (Matthew O’Haren/Imagn Images)
Trent Green, himself an Indiana graduate, recognized Mendoza’s talent and began drumming for the young quarterback’s Heisman Trophy candidacy.
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Green told Fox News Digital: “Mendoza definitely deserves a Heisman endorsement. I’ll start right away. I think there’s a long list of people who started this before me, but I thought about what he could do, what he’s been able to do since Curt Cignetti took over as head coach. I thought last year was a phenomenal season for them to take Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff.”
Green pointed to close games where Indiana was able to pull out a win in the fourth quarter. Late interceptions nearly crushed the Hoosiers, but Mendoza was able to carry his team to victory.
On one of those plays, he found wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. for the go-ahead touchdown. Cooper hit an incredible toe shot to complete the boundary catch.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza runs off the field after the NCAA college football game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 in Bloomington, Indiana. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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“Mendoza, you’re just talking about his character. I didn’t know much about him when he came from Cal. There’s a reason why guys follow him, why he’s a leader and why guys in the locker room love him, his mental toughness,” Green said. “There’s a lot of talk about how smart he is and he’s making strides and using them on the right play and using his feet at the right time and being able to make all the throws, but you think about the three tough road games they played — it was at Iowa, it was at Oregon and it was at Penn State — those games were all close games.
“He threw an interception early in the fourth quarter in all three of those games, but he still managed to get it out of his mind that he was going to come back and lead them on game-winning drives and score a touchdown in the fourth quarter on the road to win all those games. That shows you all the talent he has, as well as his mental toughness.”
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza throws before the NCAA college football game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Bloomington, Indiana. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Green, who spoke to Fox News Digital on behalf of his partnership with Caesars Sportsbook, played for Indiana from 1989 to 1992.
He amassed 5,136 passing yards and 31 TDs in those four seasons.
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