Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza entered the college football history books on Saturday evening, becoming the latest winner of the Heisman Trophy.

Mendoza is the first Hoosier ever to win college football’s highest award. The redshirt junior beat out Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin.

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“First of all,” Mendoza said during his acceptance speech, “I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to chase a dream that once felt a world away. Standing here tonight, holding this bad boy, representing Indiana University, still doesn’t feel real.”

He went on to thank his teammates and coaches, Hoosier fans, the University of California (where he got his collegiate start), and his family.

Fernando Mendoza's speech after winning the Heisman 👏 pic.twitter.com/l2xvqJzKju

— ESPN (@espn) December 14, 2025

“I want every kid out there who feels overlooked — underestimated — to know I was you,” Mendoza said as he concluded his speech. “I was that kid too. I was in your shoes. The truth is you don’t need the most stars, hype or rankings. You just need discipline, heart and people who believe in you. And you need to believe in your own abilities. I hope this moment shows you that chasing your dreams [is] worth it, no matter how big or impossible they seem.

“God bless, go Hoosiers, thank you guys.”

Later, in a press conference following the award ceremony, Mendoza expanded on his relationship with God.

“My faith is a huge component (of this award),” he said. “It’s basically the sole reason why I got here. All the bumps and bruises and the path that God has laid out for me, I wouldn’t want it any other way. … Building that faith throughout college and now being able to share my faith with these amazing teammates, just the community of faith, having God on my side, always praising Jesus Christ, it’s incredible. And I can’t thank the Man above enough.”

 

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Mendoza originally committed to Yale as a three-star quarterback recruit out of Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, but he flipped his commitment to Cal before enrolling. After redshirting as a freshman in 2022, Mendoza became the Golden Bears’ starter halfway through the 2023 season. He continued to impress the following year, entered the transfer portal after the season, and committed to Indiana 12 days later.

Mendoza’s career truly took off in his first season with the Hoosiers this fall. He completed 71.5% of his passes for 2,980 yards with 33 touchdowns against only six interceptions. His 33 TD tosses led all of FBS while his total QBR (181.4) was No. 2, less than a point behind Sayin’s. Mendoza also carried the ball 69 times for 240 yards and six more scores.

He enjoyed immense team success as well in 2025. Indiana finished the regular season 12-0, winning by an average of 33.4 points per game. Then in the Big Ten Championship Game, Mendoza’s No. 2 Hoosiers bested Sayin’s No. 1 Buckeyes, 13-10, to capture Indiana’s first conference championship since 1967.

“I want to give all the glory to God,” an emotional Mendoza said on the field after the Big Ten title game. “We were never supposed to be in this position, but by the glory of God, the great coaches, the great teammates, everyone we have around us, we were able to pull this off.”

The sports world has seen Mendoza acknowledge his Heavenly Father after some of the biggest triumphs in college football. However, in a less-viewed media availability a day before the Heisman Trophy ceremony, he spoke of the challenges he’s faced as gifts from God too. The COVID pandemic disrupted his high school experience and hamstrung his college recruiting. Meanwhile, his mother, Elsa, lives with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and uses a wheelchair.

“I’m really happy that God put those bumps and challenges in my life,” he told the media. “… Evidently, those have been blessings because they’ve lit a fire underneath myself in order to make myself work harder and get to the point that I am today. Still a long way to go, however I really do thank God for all the bumps and bruises that my family and I have accrued in order to catapult us to this position right here today.”

Mendoza finds time in his busy football schedule to raise money for MS research.

“I believe that I would not be here without the path that my Lord, Jesus Christ, has put me on today,” he told the media. “And so that’s why I always try to give Him the glory and always give Him the thanks, as I know He has a plan for me. Whether it’s helping those raise awareness for MS, whether it’s praising His glory, or helping my teammates and coaches in service to them on the field. Whatever it is, I always try to give the glory.”

 

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Mendoza might not be done hoisting trophies just yet this season. He leads his team into the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 overall seed, hoping to direct the Hoosiers all the way to the program’s first national championship. Indiana has a first-round bye and will take on the winner of the matchup between No. 9 Alabama and No. 8 Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 at 4 p.m. ET.

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