Fernando Mendoza, Indiana University’s redshirt junior quarterback, was named the 91st Heisman Trophy winner on Dec. 13, 2025, during ABC’s ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. Mendoza finished the voting with 2,362 points and 643 first-place votes, edging Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia and Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. The award caps a 13-0 season in which Mendoza guided the Hoosiers to the program’s first No. 1 CFP seed and a 2025 Big Ten Championship. The result makes Mendoza the first Heisman winner in Indiana football history.
Key Takeaways
- Heisman winner: Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) was announced Dec. 13, 2025, receiving 2,362 points and 643 first-place votes.
- Top finishers: Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) was second with 1,435 points and 189 first-place votes; Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) third with 719 points and 46 first-place votes.
- Historic season: Mendoza led Indiana to a 13-0 record, a Big Ten title, and a No. 1 College Football Playoff seed.
- Season statistics: Mendoza completed 226-of-316 passes for 2,980 yards and a nation-leading 33 passing TDs, plus 240 rushing yards and six rushing scores.
- National rankings: He led the country in passing TDs (33), was second in total touchdowns accounted for (39), and had a QB rating of 181.39 (second nationally by context given).
- Awards sweep: Earlier in the week Mendoza was named AP Player of the Year and also won the Maxwell, Walter Camp and Davey O’Brien Awards.
- Voting pool and process: Ballots were cast electronically by 930 electors — 870 media members, 59 living Heisman winners and one overall fan vote — and processed by independent accountants Deloitte.
Background
Indiana had never produced a Heisman winner prior to 2025; the program’s previous best finish was Anthony Thompson’s runner-up spot in 1989. The Hoosiers’ ascent this season followed Mendoza’s transfer from California and an on-field stretch that culminated in the Big Ten Championship win over Ohio State. The Big Ten picture in 2025 was shaped by a competitive conference slate and the return of several Power Five programs to national relevance, creating a context in which an undefeated Indiana could claim the top seed in the College Football Playoff.
Mendoza’s arrival in Bloomington came after he completed his undergraduate studies at Berkeley and enrolled in graduate coursework at Indiana. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, his blend of size, accuracy and decision-making lifted Indiana’s offense; the Hoosiers set program marks for wins and national standing. The Heisman vote reflected both individual production and team success — a pattern increasingly visible in recent voting cycles where the trophy often aligns with playoff relevance.
Main Event
The Heisman ceremony, presented by Nissan and broadcast on ABC from Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Dec. 13, confirmed Mendoza as the 91st recipient of the award. The official tally showed Mendoza with 2,362 points and 643 first-place votes. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia placed second (1,435 points, 189 first-place votes), followed by Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (719 points, 46 first-place votes) and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (432 points, eight first-place votes).
Mendoza’s season totals — 226 completions on 316 attempts for 2,980 yards, 33 passing TDs and six rushing TDs — underpin the voting outcome. He led the nation in passing touchdowns and finished among the leaders in completion percentage (71.5) and passer rating (181.39), with five games of four-or-more touchdown passes. The statistical résumé, paired with Indiana’s 13-0 record and a Big Ten title, presented a compelling case to electors.
The Heisman ballot process involved 930 electors: 870 media voters, 59 living Heisman winners and a single overall fan vote; all ballots were submitted electronically to Deloitte for tabulation. Mendoza’s win also continued a recent trend of transfer players winning the award — he is the seventh in nine years and the fourth straight transfer-era winner.
Analysis & Implications
Mendoza’s victory marks a watershed moment for Indiana football, elevating program visibility in recruiting, donor engagement and national profile. A first-ever Heisman winner provides tangible proof of the program’s upward trajectory, and the confluence of individual awards and team success can change competitive dynamics in the Big Ten when attracting transfer portal targets and high-school recruits. Administrators and coaches will likely leverage the award in short-term marketing and long-term roster-building strategies.
At the conference level, an Indiana Heisman signals Big Ten depth beyond traditional powerhouses. It may influence preseason polling, TV coverage allocation and the league’s narrative in future CFP and bowl discussions. For opponents and conference rivals, Indiana’s combination of a top-seeded playoff berth and a Heisman winner complicates game planning and talent evaluation.
On the professional front, Mendoza’s collegiate accolades improve his national standing but do not deterministically set his NFL draft position; pro evaluators weigh film, measurables and positional fit alongside awards. Mendoza’s 181.39 passer rating ranks 10th among Heisman winners historically, a useful comparative datapoint but not a sole predictor of pro success. The award may accelerate pre-draft interest and media attention, even as scouts continue their independent assessments.
Comparison & Data
| Rank | Player | School | Points | 1st-place votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fernando Mendoza | Indiana | 2,362 | 643 |
| 2 | Diego Pavia | Vanderbilt | 1,435 | 189 |
| 3 | Jeremiyah Love | Notre Dame | 719 | 46 |
| 4 | Julian Sayin | Ohio State | 432 | 8 |
| 5 | Jacob Rodriguez | Texas Tech | (listed) | (listed) |
| 6 | Jeremiah Smith | Ohio State | (listed) | (listed) |
| 7 | Gunner Stockton | Georgia | (listed) | (listed) |
| 8 | Trinidad Chambliss | Mississippi | (listed) | (listed) |
| 9 | Caleb Downs | Ohio State | (listed) | (listed) |
| 10 | Haynes King | Georgia Tech | (listed) | (listed) |
The table above highlights the top four vote totals and first-place counts published for the 2025 Heisman outcome; official releases listed full top-10 totals. Mendoza’s margin over Pavia and the distribution of first-place votes show a decisive win in the final tally. The list also underscores notable program milestones: Pavia’s finish is Vanderbilt’s best-ever Heisman placement, and Love is Notre Dame’s highest finisher since 2012.
Reactions & Quotes
The Heisman Trust announced Fernando Mendoza as the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner following the electronic tabulation of ballots.
The Heisman Trust (official)
Deloitte confirmed that 930 ballots were submitted electronically for the 2025 Heisman voting, including media, living winners and a single fan vote.
Deloitte (independent accountants)
Major awards this week named Mendoza AP Player of the Year and recognized him with the Maxwell, Walter Camp and Davey O’Brien honors in addition to the Heisman.
Associated Press / Award Committees (media/official)
Unconfirmed
- Longer-term NFL draft placement for Mendoza remains speculative; pre-draft evaluations and combine/pro day results will be decisive.
- The exact numerical influence of the single overall fan vote on the final point totals has not been publicly disaggregated by the tabulators.
Bottom Line
Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman Trophy win is both an individual honor and a milestone for Indiana football, validating a season in which he combined elite passing production with team success. The award cements Mendoza’s place among the top collegiate performers of 2025 and gives Indiana a rare program-level credential that can affect recruiting and national perception.
Looking ahead, Mendoza’s collegiate accolades will draw attention from NFL scouts and national media, but professional outcomes will depend on forthcoming evaluations. For the Big Ten and the broader college-football landscape, the rise of Indiana and the continued prominence of transfer-era winners signal shifting pathways to national recognition.