Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has won the Heisman Trophy – earning the honor of being named the best player in college football in 2025.
After an undefeated regular season, Mendoza becomes the first Indiana Hoosier to ever win the Heisman. He also became the first Cuban-American to win the award.
Mendoza, who transferred to Indiana from Cal, won three other ‘Player of the Year’ awards in 2025: the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award and the AP College Football Player of the Year award.
He beat out Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to the award.
On stage, Mendoza choked up as he thanked his family for their support all his life – earning him praise from football fans for his emotion and compassion.
‘In fourth grade, I was a new kid on the park football team, didn’t know a single teammate and was fourth on the depth chart,’ Mendoza said.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has won the Heisman Trophy as player of the year
Mendoza broke down in his speech when thanking his parents for their support
‘By mid season, I wanted to get out of there. I wanted to quit. My parents said I had to finish what I started.
‘So I learned to embrace my team and that is when I fell in love with football. By high school, I was chasing the first stages of a pipe dream: to play in college. Then Covid hit, cut the season short.
‘The result? I was only a two-star prospect, I only had one scholarship offer. But my family’s unconditional love and belief kept me going and pushed me forward. These are the people who built me long before football did.
‘Mamí, this is your trophy as much as it is mine. You’ve always been my biggest fan, you’re my light you’re my “why”… Papí, thank you for grounding me. Thank you for holding me accountable… and reminding me that talent means nothing without discipline and consistency.’
Mendoza concluded his speech. saying, ‘This is an important one: I want every kid out there who feels overlooked, underestimated to know I was you. 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 are worth it, no matter how big or impossible they seem. God bless, Go Hoosiers.’
Mendoza is the first Indiana player and the first Cuban-American to win the Heisman
Mendoza’s strong play helped guide Indiana to its first undefeated season in 80 years
Fans praised Mendoza for his speech, calling it one of the greatest in the history of the award.
‘I’m glad he won,’ one commenter on X said. ‘He seems like a good, humble kid.’
Another comment read, ‘Tremendous speech. Guy has a future in politics if football doesn’t work out.’
‘Fernando Mendoza just gave the greatest Heisman Trophy speech of all time,’ the official account of Hard Rock Bet posted.
‘How can you not love this guy?’ another account posted.
One account wrote, ‘Mendoza just turned a Heisman moment into a lesson on humility, respect and the importance of where you come from.’
Mendoza won the Big Ten title with Indiana and led them to the No. 1 seed in the playoff
This season, Mendoza passed for 2,980 yards while leading the nation with 39 passing touchdowns. His passer rating of 181.4 was the third best mark in the country.
With him under center, Indiana won their first Big Ten title since 1967 and went undefeated for the first time since 1945.
Indiana is the No. 1 overall seed in this year’s College Football Playoff. It’s also their first appearance in the playoff in school history.
The Hoosiers will play in the Rose Bowl against the winner of the first-round game between 8-seed Oklahoma and 9-seed Alabama.