Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza received the 2025 Heisman Trophy as probably the most excellent participant in school soccer. He beat out Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Notre Dame operating again Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin for the respect.
The Hoosiers’ sign caller earned 643 first-place votes, 191 second-place votes and 51 third-place votes. Pavia completed second with 189 first-place votes, 352 second-place votes and 164 for third.
Mendoza got here from humble beginnings, rated because the No. 134 quarterback within the Class of 2022. Earlier than he earned a late supply from California, he was set to go to Yale and play within the Ivy League. Even after arriving in Berkeley, he needed to battle for the beginning job every season earlier than lastly settling in and breaking out as a sophomore.
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After that spectacular run, Mendoza turned one of many hottest commodities within the switch portal. As a substitute of selecting a standard energy, he was bought on Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and a rising program in Bloomington. His brother Alberto was additionally a quarterback on the faculty, however the addition of Fernando proved to be one of many best in program historical past.
Throughout Indiana’s historic run to the No. 1 total seed within the Faculty Soccer Playoff, Mendoza was sensational. The junior accomplished 71.5% of his passes for two,980 yards and led school soccer with 33 passing touchdowns. The Hoosiers received the Huge Ten outright for the primary time since 1945 with an ideal 13-0 file.
In contrast to almost each different candidate, Mendoza had a number of Heisman moments. In a 27-24 comeback win towards Penn State, he led a game-winning drive and linked with Omar Cooper on an acrobatic landing that can be replayed for years. Within the Huge Ten Championship Sport towards Ohio State, he took a third-down snap and hit Charlie Becker for a 33-yard cross that helped the Hoosiers run out the clock in a 13-10 upset.
Now, the Heisman winner prepares to take Indiana into the CFP. The Hoosiers play the winner of No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 9 Alabama within the Rose Bowl on New Yr’s Day. Indiana has by no means received a nationwide championship.
Surprisingly, Mendoza is the primary Heisman Trophy winner to play within the CFP since Alabama’s Bryce Younger in 2021. Younger led the Crimson Tide to the nationwide title recreation earlier than falling simply brief to rival Georgia. Between 2014 and 2021, seven of the eight Heisman winners earned a visit to the CFP.
Mendoza can be the primary Huge Ten participant to win the Heisman Trophy since Ohio State’s Troy Smith in 2006, and simply the second within the twenty first Century. USC and Oregon have produced a mixed 5 Heismans since 2000, however all got here whereas members of the Pac-12. Indiana has not produced a Heisman finalist since operating again Anthony Thompson in 1989.
2025 Heisman Trophy voting
| Rank | Participant | Faculty | 1st | 2nd | third | Whole factors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fernando Mendoza | Indiana | 643 | 191 | 51 | 2,362 |
| 2 | Diego Pavia | Vanderbilt | 189 | 352 | 164 | 1,435 |
| 3 | Jeremiyah Love | Notre Dame | 46 | 157 | 267 | 719 |
| 4 | Julian Sayin | Ohio State | 8 | 118 | 172 | 432 |
| 5 | Jacob Rodriguez | Texas Tech | 17 | 56 | 132 | 295 |
| 6 | Jeremiah Smith | Ohio State | 4 | 18 | 36 | 84 |
Elevating the Hoosiers
Indiana reached the Faculty Soccer Playoff final season, however misplaced by double-digits towards Notre Dame because the offense struggled to create alternatives. Statistically, the unit hasn’t been a lot completely different in 2025. In opposition to elite competitors, although, Mendoza has confirmed to be a major improve.
In historic wins over No. 1 Ohio State and No. 3 Oregon, Mendoza accomplished 65% of his passes and averaged 8.1 yards per try towards two of the most effective defenses in school soccer. He accomplished the game-changing 33-yard cross towards Ohio State to expire the clock. Whole stats inform a part of the story, however his ascension in key moments has been the distinction between wonderful and nationwide caliber at Indiana.
