Fernando Mendoza wins 2025 Heisman Trophy to end – Sports News
In a historic first for faculty soccer, the Heisman Trophy is making its approach to Bloomington. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was named the 2025 Heisman winner in New York City on Saturday, outshining a formidable lineup of finalists that included Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, and Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love.
With this prestigious honor — awarded yearly to probably the most excellent participant in faculty soccer — Mendoza has turn out to be the primary Hoosier to clinch the Heisman in its 90-year historical past. It got here after Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith shared a weird message after a main award snub.
Indiana‘s solely different Heisman finalist was working back Anthony Thompson, who got here in second place back in 1989. Seven Indiana gamers have made it into the top-10 in Heisman voting through the years, together with Bill Hillenbrand (fifth, 1942), Pete Pihos (eighth, 1945), Thompson (ninth, 1988), Vaughn Dunbar (sixth, 1991), Antwaan Randle El (sixth, 2001), Tevin Coleman (seventh, 2014), and Kurtis Rourke (ninth, 2024).
“First I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to chase a dream that once felt the world away,” Mendoza stated to begin his Heisman acceptance speech. “Standing here tonight holding this bad boy, representing Indiana University still doesn’t feel real.
“If you instructed me as a child in Miami that I’d be right here on stage holding this prestigious trophy, I in all probability would have laughed, cried — like I’m doing now — or each.
“Because this moment, it’s an honor. It’s bigger than me, it’s a product of a family, team, community, and a whole lot of people who believed in me long before anybody knew my name.”
Fresh off his spectacular debut season with Indiana, Mendoza was the clear favourite heading into the 2025 Heisman ceremony. The 22-year-old accomplished 226-of-316 passes for two,980 yards, 33 touchdowns, and simply six interceptions, main the Hoosiers to an unbeaten 13-0 document and securing the No. 1 seed within the College Football Playoff.
After a stellar season, Mendoza completed first within the nation in passing touchdowns (33), tied for second in yards per attempt (9.4), and third in passer score (181.4).
The Heisman is simply the newest addition to Mendoza’s spectacular trophy assortment, which already consists of the Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Award. The quarterback was additionally named the AP College Football Player of the Year and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
Mendoza’s long record of achievements this yr is even more exceptional on condition that he was solely a two-star recruit with a single scholarship offer when he graduated high faculty in 2022.
“I want every kid out there who feels overlooked, underestimated, to know I was you,” Mendoza added during his Heisman acceptance speech.
“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 you need to believe in your own abilities.
“I hope this second exhibits you that chasing your desires are price it, no matter how massive or inconceivable they appear.”
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