Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza capped off a storybook season by winning the 2025 Heisman Trophy, leading the undefeated Hoosiers to the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. His dominant campaign and decisive Heisman victory cemented his place in college football history.
The 2025 college football season will forever be remembered in Bloomington, Indiana. Fernando Mendoza became the first Hoosier to win the Heisman Trophy, a feat that had eluded the program since the award’s inception in 1935. His triumph wasn’t just personal, it symbolized the rise of Indiana football, which finished the regular season 13–0, claimed its first outright Big Ten championship since 1945, and secured the No. 1 seed in the expanded College Football Playoff.
Mendoza’s numbers tell the story of his dominance. The redshirt junior threw for 2,980 yards and a national-best 33 touchdown passes, while maintaining remarkable efficiency and poise. He became the third Big Ten quarterback since 2000 to record three straight games with at least four touchdown passes and zero interceptionsNCAA. His consistency and leadership were the backbone of Indiana’s perfect season, and his ability to deliver in big moments, such as the Big Ten Championship win over Ohio State, made him the clear frontrunner for the Heisman.
The Heisman voting reflected Mendoza’s commanding season. He received 2,362 points and 643 first-place votes, finishing first in all six voting regions. His margin of victory was one of the most decisive in recent history, with 84.66% of the total possible points, the seventh-highest percentage ever. The final order of finish was:
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana – 2,362 points, 643 first-place votes
Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt – 1,435 points, 189 first-place votes
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame – 719 points, 46 first-place votes
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State – 432 points, 8 first-place votes
While Mendoza’s victory was decisive, the race featured other standout performers. Diego Pavia at Vanderbilt had a record-setting season, keeping the Commodores competitive in the SEC and earning runner-up honors. Jeremiyah Love’s explosive playmaking for Notre Dame gave the Irish a dynamic rushing attack, while Julian Sayin’s steady leadership at Ohio State kept the defending champions in contention. Each finalist had a season worthy of recognition, but Mendoza’s undefeated campaign elevated him above the rest.
Sportsvival, a leading voice in college football analysis and scouting the draft, noted that both Mendoza and Pavia had “amazing seasons” and could have been deserving winners. Pavia’s brilliance in Nashville was undeniable, but Mendoza’s combination of team success and individual dominance ultimately carried the day.
For Indiana fans, Mendoza’s Heisman is more than an individual award, it’s validation of a program that has long been overlooked in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers’ rise to the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff is unprecedented, and Mendoza’s leadership has made them legitimate national title contenders. His journey from transfer quarterback to Heisman winner embodies the resilience and determination that define college football’s greatest stories.
As the postseason looms, Mendoza’s focus now shifts from personal accolades to team glory. Indiana enters the playoff with momentum, history, and belief. Whether or not the Hoosiers can finish the job, Mendoza’s Heisman season will stand as one of the most remarkable chapters in college football lore, a season where an underdog program, led by a transcendent quarterback, rose to the very top.
(photo courtesy of NY Times)