Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza has claimed the Heisman Trophy, capping a historic season for both himself and his team.
Mendoza becomes only the third Latino player to win college football’s most prestigious individual award and the first Cuban American to receive the honor. His victory came over Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin.
The quarterback’s standout season helped lead Indiana to an unbeaten record, the program’s first Big Ten championship since 1967, and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Mendoza threw for a Bowl Subdivision-leading 33 touchdowns and ran for six more, setting a school record with 39 total touchdowns.
Born in Miami, Mendoza is the grandson of Cuban immigrants and has credited his heritage for shaping his passion for football. His achievement follows other Latino trailblazers: Stanford quarterback Jim Plunkett, the first Latino to win the Heisman in 1970 and the first Mexican American quarterback to win a Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders, and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, whose grandfather was born in Mexico and who became the second Latino Heisman winner in 2021.