Fernando Mendoza wiped away tears and looked toward his family Saturday night as he clutched college football’s most iconic trophy, dedicating his Heisman moment to the person he credits for everything that came before it — his mother.
“Mommy, this is your trophy as much as it is mine,” Mendoza said during his emotional acceptance speech. “You’ve always been my biggest fan. You’re my light, you’re my why, you’re my biggest supporter.”
The Indiana Hoosiers quarterback was named the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner during the ceremony at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room in New York City. The 22-year-old became the first player in program history to win the award, which has been presented annually since 1935.
Mendoza spoke directly to his mother, Elsa, crediting her sacrifices and guidance for shaping both his career and character.
“Your sacrifices, courage and love — those have been my first playbook and the playbook I’m going to carry by my side throughout my entire life,” Mendoza said. “You taught me that toughness doesn’t need to be loud. It can be quiet and strong.”
Mendoza finished with 2,362 points and 643 first-place votes, outdistancing Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin. Love, Pavia and Sayin were the other finalists invited to New York.
A first-year starter after transferring from California, Mendoza guided Indiana to its first No. 1 ranking and the top seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff. He threw for 2,980 yards and a national-best 33 touchdown passes while adding six rushing scores. The unbeaten Hoosiers will play a CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
A lightly recruited two-star Miami native, Mendoza is the second Heisman finalist in Indiana history, joining 1989 runner-up Anthony Thompson. He is also the seventh Hoosier to finish in the top 10 of Heisman voting and gives the program back-to-back top-10 finishers after Kurtis Rourke placed ninth last year.
Earlier this week, Mendoza was named the Associated Press player of the year and added the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien awards Friday night, capping a season that reshaped Indiana football.
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