It is officially official. Indiana has not only recorded the best season in program history, finishing 13-0 as the No. 1 team in the country, but the Hoosiers can now celebrate their first-ever Heisman Trophy winner. Saturday night in New York City, four outstanding finalists took the stage, but only one left holding college football’s most prestigious award. That honor belonged to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza’s win was historic on multiple levels. He became the first Heisman winner in Indiana history and the first Big Ten player to claim the trophy since Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith in 2006. For a fan base that not long ago could only dream of moments like this, the scene felt almost surreal.
After accepting the award, Mendoza delivered a heartfelt speech, thanking his teammates and coaches for guiding him along the way. The most emotional moment, however, came when he turned his attention to his family. Standing on college football’s biggest stage, Mendoza made it clear that this achievement belonged just as much to his parents, grandparents, and extended family as it did to him.
“And for my grandparents: Por el amor y sacrificio de mis padres y abuelos, los quiero mucho (For the love and sacrifice of my parents and grandparents, I love you),” Mendoza said during his Heisman speech. “De todo mi corazón, de todas gracias. (With all my heart, thank you).”
The speech resonated deeply, but it also surprised some viewers when Mendoza seamlessly shifted into Spanish, unaware that the Indiana quarterback is Cuban American. Saturday night became a landmark moment for the Latino and Hispanic community, as two of the four Heisman finalists came from Hispanic backgrounds. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, a Mexican American, finished second in the final voting behind Mendoza.
With his victory, Mendoza became just the third player of Latino or Hispanic descent to win the Heisman Trophy. Former Stanford quarterback Jim Plunkett, of Mexican American heritage, won the award in 1970, while Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, whose grandfather was born in Mexico, claimed it in 2021. Mendoza now stands alone as the first Cuban American to ever win the Heisman, a milestone he has embraced throughout his journey to the national spotlight.
“Alberto [Mendoza] and I play football not for ourselves, not for fulfillment and satisfaction of ourselves, we have a lot of whys why we do it for,” Mendoza said during his media availability on November 19. “One of the whys is our mom. Another why is our entire family. Our entire family comes from a Cuban background. All of our grandparents were born and raised in Cuba, and that’s something we always take deeply to heart. That’s something that’s always in the back of our mind, not only playing for ourselves, but playing for more, whether it’s our family, our nationality, or God.”
As a Mexican American, watching Mendoza’s journey this season has been especially powerful. He represents both Indiana University and his heritage with pride, humility, and respect. His achievement carries even more weight when considering the numbers. Hispanic and Latino athletes make up roughly five percent of college football players, and only about one percent of the NFL. In a sport where Latino representation remains limited, seeing players like Mendoza and Pavia thrive on the biggest stage is both meaningful and inspiring.
“To be able to have that opportunity and honor to be able to not only do something for yourself but also to glorify into a nationality and to put on for a larger audience is always such an honor and great opportunity,” Mendoza said. “That is something like we talked about before, it’s my why. It’s not only my family, it’s the people around me, whether it’s the program, my nationality, and then it’s God.”
Mendoza’s rise has been defined by perseverance. Even when the odds were stacked against him, he continued to fight, compete, and represent everything he stands for. Proud of his ethnicity and unapologetic about who he is, Mendoza closed his Heisman speech with a message aimed at those who have ever felt overlooked.
“I want every kid out there who feels overlooked and underestimated, I was you,” the 2025 Heisman winner said. “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 your own abilities. I hope this moment shows you that chasing your dreams are worth it no matter how big or impossible they seem.”
It is a message that extends far beyond football. You do not need to be the biggest, fastest, or most highly recruited player to achieve greatness. Through discipline, belief, and relentless work, dreams can become reality. Mendoza’s words will inspire young athletes of all races and backgrounds to take pride in who they are and continue chasing what once felt unreachable.
Mendoza may have conquered the Big Ten and claimed the Heisman Trophy, but his college journey is far from finished. He and the Hoosiers will appear in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl against the winner of Alabama vs Oklahoma. While there is plenty to celebrate, Mendoza’s focus now shifts forward as he prepares to lead Indiana in pursuit of its first-ever playoff victory.