It finally happened. After decades of "almost" and "what-if" seasons, the Indiana Hoosiers actually have a bronze statue coming to Bloomington. If you were watching the 2025 Heisman Trophy ceremony back in December, you saw Fernando Mendoza hoist that heavy piece of hardware at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Honestly, if you had told anyone two years ago that a transfer quarterback from Cal would lead Indiana to a perfect regular season and then run away with the Heisman, they probably would’ve laughed you out of the room.
But Mendoza didn't just win; he dominated. He put up 2,362 total points in the voting, which is a massive gap over the runner-up, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia.
How Fernando Mendoza Won the Heisman Trophy
The 2025 season was basically a fever dream for Indiana fans. Mendoza, a redshirt junior who originally hailed from Miami, Florida, stepped into a program that hasn't historically been a "Heisman factory." Before him, the closest they ever got was Anthony Thompson finishing second in 1989. Mendoza changed the vibe the second he stepped on campus.
His stats were kinda ridiculous. He finished the regular season with 3,349 passing yards and 41 total touchdowns (33 of those through the air). What really sealed the deal for the voters, though, was his efficiency. The guy threw only six interceptions all year. In a season where other top contenders were turning the ball over in big moments, Mendoza was like a surgeon. He led the nation with a passer rating of 181.4.
He didn't just do it against the "cupcake" teams, either. The Heisman is often won or lost in November, and Mendoza’s performance in the Big Ten Championship win over Ohio State was essentially his "Heisman moment." He was the first player in Indiana history to win the award, and he did it while leading the Hoosiers to their first-ever No. 1 ranking.
The 2025 Finalists: Who Else Was in the Mix?
It wasn't a one-man race for the whole season. For a while, Diego Pavia from Vanderbilt was the darling of college football. He finished second with 1,435 points. Watching Pavia play was chaotic in the best way possible—he was responsible for about 71% of Vanderbilt's total offense.
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Then you had Jeremiyah Love, the Notre Dame running back. He was the classic "workhorse" finalist, finishing third. He averaged nearly seven yards per carry and was the main reason the Irish stayed in the playoff hunt. Julian Sayin, the Ohio State sophomore, rounded out the top four. Sayin’s stats were actually quite similar to Mendoza’s in terms of yardage, but he couldn't quite match the "narrative" of what Mendoza was doing at Indiana.
The Recent History of Heisman Winners
To understand the weight of Mendoza’s win, you have to look at who he followed. In 2024, we saw something truly unique when Travis Hunter from Colorado won. That was a massive shift because Hunter wasn't just a receiver; he was a lockdown corner, too. He was the first real two-way player to win since Charles Woodson in 1997.
The 2020s have been a bit of a rollercoaster for the award. Here is a quick look at who won the Heisman Trophy over the last few years:
- 2025: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
- 2024: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
- 2023: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
- 2022: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
- 2021: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
- 2020: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Mendoza's win marks a return to the "Transfer Quarterback" era. If you count Mendoza, seven of the last nine winners have been transfers. It’s basically the new blueprint. You find a guy who’s experienced but maybe underutilized at his first school, put him in a system that fits his arm, and let him cook.
Why This Win Matters for the Big Ten
For a long time, the Heisman felt like an SEC or Big 12 invitational. Before Mendoza, the last player from a "traditional" Big Ten school to win was Troy Smith back in 2006. (Yes, Caleb Williams won at USC in 2022, but they weren't in the Big Ten yet, so that doesn't really count for the conference's ego).
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Mendoza’s win, combined with Indiana’s undefeated run, shifted the power balance. It proved that you don't have to be at Alabama or Ohio State to get the spotlight. If you put up the numbers and your team keeps winning, the voters will find you.
Surprising Facts About the Heisman
Most people know the basics, but there are some weird details about the trophy that usually get missed. For example, did you know that Fernando Mendoza is only the second winner of Latin American descent? The first was Jim Plunkett all the way back in 1970. Mendoza talked about this during his acceptance speech, mentioning how his Cuban heritage and his grandparents’ journey shaped his work ethic.
Also, the "Heisman Curse" is still a thing people talk about, though it’s mostly a myth. People say if you win the Heisman, you won't win the National Championship. But Mendoza is currently trying to break that; as of mid-January 2026, he has Indiana in the title game against Miami. If he wins, he’ll join a very short list of players—like Joe Burrow and DeVonta Smith—who took home both trophies in the same season.
How the Voting Actually Works
It’s not just a bunch of guys in a room picking their favorite player. There are 930 electors.
- 870 of them are media members distributed across six regions.
- 59 are living former Heisman winners.
- 1 vote is the "fans' vote" (which is usually just a PR thing, but hey, it counts).
Voters pick a first, second, and third place. A first-place vote is worth three points, second is two, and third is one. Mendoza was named on over 95% of all ballots. That is a staggering level of consensus. It means even the voters who didn't think he was #1 still thought he was one of the three best players in the country.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re looking ahead to the next season or just trying to understand the "Heisman meta," keep these points in mind.
The Transfer Portal is King Don't ignore the guy who just moved schools. The "veteran transfer" is now the most common Heisman profile. Experience in a different system seems to give these quarterbacks an edge in maturity and reading defenses.
Narrative is Half the Battle Mendoza didn't just have stats; he had the "Indiana is winning" story. If a player is putting up huge numbers on a three-loss team, they almost never win. The Heisman is increasingly becoming the "Best Player on a Top 4 Team" award.
Watch the "Dual-Threat" Stats Even though Mendoza is a passer first, his six rushing touchdowns were crucial. Modern voters want to see a quarterback who can move. If a guy is a pure pocket statue, he needs to throw for 5,000 yards to get the same respect a scrambler gets for 3,500.
Keep an eye on the early-season "Heisman contenders" lists for 2026, but take them with a grain of salt. At this time last year, Fernando Mendoza wasn't even in the top 20 on most betting boards. The award is won in the dirt of October and the pressure of November.