On December 13, Fernando Mendoza, the quarterback of No.1 ranked Indiana, won the first Heisman Trophy in Hoosier History.  

The Heisman Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding player in college football and is widely considered as the most prestigious award in the sport.  

The voting finished with Mendoza in a strong lead, earning 2,362 points for first, followed by Diego Pavia (1,435 points), Jeremiyah Love (719 points), Julian Sayin (432 points). According to ESPN. 

Mendoza finished the regular season leading the Hoosiers to their first No. 1 ranking, with 2,980 yards and and a country leading 33 touchdown passes.  

The award sealing moment for Mendoza was the amazing performance put on in the Big-10 Championship where Mendoza took down the top ranked Ohio State while throwing for 222 yards and a touchdown.  

Mendoza embraced the moment in his postgame interview exclaiming, “By the glory of God, the Hoosiers are flippin’ champs!” 

Mendoza and the Hoosiers earned the 1 seed in the 2026 College Football Playoffs and have a bye week until they play the winner of Alabama and Oklahoma.