Who is Fernando Mendoza? What you need to know about the 2025 Heisman favorites

Indiana University Quarterback Fernando Mendoza He is the favorite to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy after a successful college football season.

In his first year with the team, the redshirt junior led the Indians to a perfect 13-0 record and a 13-10 win over No. 2 Ohio State on Dec. 6 for its first Big Ten title since 1967.

He finished the regular season with 2,980 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and six interceptions.

The Hoosiers are currently the No. 1 team in the country, and Mendoza will go on to lead Indiana into the College Football Playoff and face the winner of No. 8 Oklahoma State and No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2026.

The Heisman Trophy ceremony will be held on December 13, 2025.

Keep scrolling to read more about the quarterback who continues to make headlines:

Mendoza began his college football career at UC Berkeley

Before Mendoza took the country by storm at Indiana, the redshirt junior quarterback spent two seasons with the California Golden Bears. He earned some playing time his freshman season and took over the starting job his sophomore season.

He made his first career start against Oregon State in Week 6 of the 2023 season (his redshirt freshman year) and made his presence felt immediately.

He started the rest of that season for the Golden Bears, completing 1,708 passing yards and 14 touchdowns in just eight starts.

By the next season, Mendoza was a full-time starter at Cal. He was named ACC Quarterback of the Week twice during the 2024 season. In his first full season as a starter, he threw for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns, with arguably his best game of the year coming in a Week 2 upset win over Auburn.

After impressing at Cal, Mendoza transferred to Indiana University in 2025.

Named 2025 AP College Football Player of the Year after leading Indiana to Big Ten title

Mendoza was announced as the Associated Press Football Player of the Year on Dec. 11, thanks in part to the long-awaited conference championship game.

Mendoza received 32 of 51 first-place votes, winning the award in a landslide. The honor is voted on by members of the national media.

It certainly helps that Mendoza led the Hoosiers to a 13-0 season that included wins over No. 5 Oregon State and No. 2 Ohio State and a No. 1 ranking in the national polls.

Mendoza’s brother serves as Indiana’s backup quarterback

This is a family owned business in Indiana.

Mendoza joined his younger brother when he transferred to play for the Indians this season. Albertoon the list.

Mendoza previously said Alberto’s stay in Indiana was a key factor in his decision to transfer to the Hoosiers.

“I think having my brother in there, who’s my best friend and the one who puts the most pressure on me, it’s great to have him,” Mendoza said. indy star January.

Alberto has been outstanding this season and threw his first career touchdown pass on September 6 against Kennesaw State. That game was historic not only for the Mendoza family, but for college football in general, as Alberto’s touchdown pass – combined with Fernando’s touchdown pass earlier in the game – made them the first pair of brothers to throw a touchdown pass for the same team in the same FBS game. Brady and Austin Allen Arkansas 2015.

His family is Cuban and he grew up in Miami

Family has always been a big part of Mendoza’s life. Both his grandparents were born and raised in Cuba before the family moved to Miami. Mendoza was born in Boston but also grew up in Miami.

Mendoza — Interviewed by Indiana University News website Peegs.com earlier this year – spoke about the importance of family in his football career.

“Alberto and I don’t play football for ourselves, not for our own achievement and satisfaction – we do it for many reasons. One reason is our mom. Another reason is our whole family. Our whole family has a Cuban background. All our grandparents were born and raised in Cuba, and that’s something we always keep in mind.”