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2d ago

Fernando Mendoza Wins Heisman in Landslide, Delivering Indiana’s First Trophy

The junior’s victory punctuates a 13-0 Big Ten title season that sent Indiana to the playoff as the No. 1 seed.

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Dec 13, 2025; New York, NY, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza wins the Heisman Trophy during the trophy presentation at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room. Mandatory Credit: Todd Van Emst/Heisman Trust via Imagn Images

Overview

  • Mendoza received 643 first-place votes to win decisively, with Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia finishing second; Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love placed third and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin fourth.
  • He led the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten championship since 1967 and an undefeated season, securing a first-round bye before a Rose Bowl quarterfinal on Jan. 1 against the Oklahoma–Alabama winner.
  • The Cal transfer threw for 2,980 yards with a nation-leading 33 touchdown passes, 71.5% completions and six interceptions, adding six rushing scores.
  • The award capped an honors sweep that included AP Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien Award, and reports noted he swept all six Heisman regions.
  • Mendoza is Indiana’s first Heisman winner and the first Cuban-American recipient, while betting markets had installed him as the heavy favorite ahead of Pavia, Vanderbilt’s first-ever finalist.