Fernando Mendoza, the dynamic quarterback leading the No. 1 Indiana football team, secured the Heisman Trophy on Saturday evening, marking the first time a Hoosier player has claimed this prestigious honor since its establishment in 1935.
Accumulating an impressive total of 2,362 points, including 643 first-place votes, Mendoza outperformed Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia (1,435 points), Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love (719 points), and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin (432 points).
Mendoza’s victory in the Heisman race was resounding, as he topped all six Heisman regions, a feat last achieved by Caleb Williams in 2022. His name appeared on 95.16 percent of all ballots, matching Marcus Mariota’s 2014 record for the second-highest tally in Heisman history. Additionally, he garnered 84.6 percent of the total possible points, ranking as the seventh-highest in Heisman history.
Expressing his gratitude, Mendoza humbly stated, “I haven’t seen the numbers yet, but it’s such an honor to be mentioned with these guys [Pavia, Love, and Sayin]. It’s really a credit to our team. It’s a team award.”
Making history this season, Mendoza steered the Hoosiers to their inaugural No. 1 ranking and secured the top seed in the 12-team College Football bracket. He showcased exceptional skills by throwing for 2,980 yards and a national-best 33 touchdown passes, while also contributing with six rushing scores. Indiana, the sole unbeaten major college football team, is set to compete in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal match in the Rose Bowl on January 1.
As a redshirt junior and a first-year starter for the Hoosiers following his transfer from California, Mendoza spearheaded an offensive unit that surpassed program records for touchdowns and points, previously set during last season’s surprising journey to the CFP.
Notably, Mendoza becomes the second Heisman finalist in Indiana’s history, joining 1989 runner-up Anthony Thompson. His top-10 finish in Heisman voting makes him the seventh Indiana player to achieve this feat, marking another milestone for the program by securing back-to-back players in the top 10, with Kurtis Rourke finishing ninth last year.
With his teammates chanting “HeismanDoza” during his media address, Mendoza reflected on the turning point when he sensed a realistic shot at winning the Heisman following the Hoosiers’ dominant 63-10 victory over then No. 19 Illinois on September 20.
In a notable trend, quarterbacks have dominated the Heisman scene, with Mendoza becoming the 43rd quarterback to claim the award and the second winner of Latin American heritage after Stanford’s Jim Plunkett in 1970.
Acknowledging his roots, Mendoza shared, “Although I grew up in America, my four grandparents are all from Cuba. I had the opportunity to go there, and that was important to me. I credit the love to my grandparents and the Hispanic community.”
The Heisman Trophy presentation capped off a series of accolades for Mendoza, who was previously named The Associated Press player of the year and received the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien awards. Meanwhile, Love secured the Doak Walker Award.
Mendoza and Pavia exemplify the evolving landscape of college football transfers, with Mendoza being the seventh transfer player to win the Heisman in the last nine years, while Pavia has traversed three schools, culminating in his notable achievements at Vanderbilt.
Pavia clinched second place in the Heisman voting with 189 first-place votes, setting a school record with 3,192 passing yards and 27 touchdowns for the Commodores. His exceptional performance propelled Vanderbilt to its first-ever 10-win season, including victories over ranked opponents as the team ascended to No. 9 in the AP Top 25 rankings, a milestone not reached since 1937.
From being unrecruited out of high school to making his mark at junior college and New Mexico State before landing at Vanderbilt through the transfer portal in 2024, Pavia’s journey underscores his resilience and determination.
Looking ahead, Vanderbilt is slated to compete against Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl on December 31.
On the other hand, Love, the standout running back for Notre Dame, positioned himself as a strong contender with an exceptional season. Ranking fourth in rushing yards (1,372), fifth in per-game average (114.3), and third in rushing touchdowns (18) in the Bowl Subdivision, Love showcased his prowess for the Fighting Irish.
Despite missing out on a CFP bid and opting against a bowl game, Love’s remarkable achievements include becoming the first player in Notre Dame history to record multiple touchdown runs of 90 yards or more.
As for Sayin, the leader of