Fernado Mendoza becomes first Heisman winner in IU history

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Heisman Trophy finalists were announced, and the sport’s biggest award now has a new name on it.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first winner in program history. Mendoza beat out Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin.

The Hoosiers are the number one overall seed in the College Football Playoff and are coming off their first Big Ten championship since 1967. They also finished the regular season 12-0 for the first time in school history.

Mendoza has been at the center of it all. In his first and only season as Indiana’s starter, he threw an FBS-best 33 touchdowns, recording 2,980 passing yards.

Mendoza’s path to this moment was not the usual one. He originally committed to Yale before flipping to Cal, where he redshirted and kept working, ranking number134 at his position in 2022. After winning the trophy, Mendoza shared a message for players who feel overlooked.

“I want every kid out there who feels overlooked, underestimated to know I was you. I was that kid too. I was in your shoes,” Mendoza said. “The truth is you don’t need the most stars, hype or rankings. You just need discipline, heart and people who believe in you.”

If there was one “Heisman moment” this season, many pointed to Mendoza’s game-winning touchdown throw to Omar Cooper Jr. against Penn State. But his case was built on more than one play. When Indiana’s perfect season was on the line, Mendoza delivered again and again.

“To my lineman, who protected me, every receiver and tight end that bailed me out and made me look good – to every running back who fought for more yards and to our defense that gave us that heart, swagger and more second chances than we deserved — this trophy might have my name on it, but it belongs to all of you,” Mendoza said. “It belongs, for the first time, in Bloomington.”

In the final voting, Pavia finished second, Love took third and Sayin was fourth. For Mendoza — and for the rest of Indiana — the season is not over yet. The Hoosiers still have a championship to chase.