The Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the heavy favorite to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy after a successful college football season.
In his first year with the team, the redshirt junior led the Hoosiers to an unblemished 13-0 record and, with a 13-10 win over No. 2 Ohio State on Dec. 6, their first Big Ten Championship since 1967.
He finished the regular season with 2,980 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and just six interceptions.
With the Hoosiers currently the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, Mendoza will continue to lead Indiana through the College Football Playoff, playing the winner of No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2026.
The Heisman Trophy ceremony takes place on December 13, 2025.
Keep scrolling to read more about the quarterback who continues to make headlines:
Mendoza began his college football career at the University of California, Berkeley
Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers
Getty ImagesBefore Mendoza took the nation by storm at Indiana, the redshirt junior quarterback spent two seasons with the California Golden Bears. He earned some playing time his freshman season and assumed the starting role his sophomore year.
He made his first career start in Week 6 of the 2023 season, his redshirt freshman year, against Oregon State and immediately made his presence felt.
He started the rest of that season with the Golden Bears, finishing with 1,708 passing yards and 14 touchdowns in just eight starts.
By the next season, Mendoza was a full-time starter at Cal. During the 2024 season, he won ACC Quarterback of the Week twice. His first full season as a starter saw him throw for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns, with arguably his biggest game of the year coming in an upset win over Auburn University in Week 2.
After his impressive career at Cal, Mendoza transferred to Indiana University in 2025.
Named 2025 AP College Football Player of the Year after leading Indiana to Big Ten Championship
Thanks in part to the long-awaited conference championship, Mendoza won the AP College Football Player of the Year, announced Dec. 11.
Mendoza received 32 of the first 51 votes, making him the overwhelming choice for the award. The honor is voted for by the media from all over the country.
It certainly helped that Mendoza led the Hoosiers to a 13-0 season, including wins over No. 5 Oregon and No. 2 Ohio State, and a No. 1 ranking in the national polls.
Mendoza’s younger brother is his backup quarterback at Indiana
Fernando Mendoza
Getty ImagesIt’s a family business in Indiana.
When Mendoza transferred to play for the Hoosiers this season, he joined his younger brother, Albertoon the list
Mendoza previously said that having Alberto at Indiana was a key factor in his decision to transfer to the Hoosiers.
“I think having my little brother there, who is my best friend and the person who pushes me the most, was great to have,” Mendoza said. IndyStar in January
Alberto saw some action this season and threw his first career touchdown pass in Indiana’s game against Kennesaw State on September 6. That game was historic not only for the Mendoza family, but for college football in general, as Alberto’s touchdown pass, combined with Fernando’s touchdown pass earlier in the game, made them the first set of brothers to throw the same touchdown for the same FBS team. Brady i Austin Allen of Arkansas in 2015.
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His family is Cuban and he grew up in Miami
Family has always been a big part of Mendoza’s life. Both of his grandparents were born and raised in Cuba before moving the family to Miami. While Mendoza was born in Boston, he was also raised in Miami.
Mendoza – speaking on the Indiana University news website Peegs.com Earlier this year, he spoke about the importance of family in his football career.
“Alberto and I play football not for ourselves, not for the fulfillment and satisfaction of ourselves; we have many reasons why we do it. One of the reasons is our mother. Another is because it is our whole family. Our whole family is of Cuban origin. All our grandparents were born and raised in Cuba, and this is something that we always take very close to our hearts.”