Heisman in Hand, Eyes on the Prize: Fernando Mendoza Returns to Bloomington Focused on a National Title
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The trophy is home. The spotlight, for now, is dimmed. And Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, fresh off a whirlwind week that ended with college football’s most prestigious individual honor, is back where it all started - with his teammates, in Bloomington, chasing something even bigger.
After a week of collecting national player of the year honors - capped by hoisting the Heisman Trophy in New York - Mendoza returned to campus on Monday, a little road-worn but laser-focused. He met with local media for a 12-minute session, and while the glow of the Heisman was still fresh, his message was clear: the work isn’t done.
“This weekend was a great experience for my teammates and I,” Mendoza said. “But just like the Big Ten Championship game, just like every big game we’ve played this season, that chapter is closed. I’ll be part of the Heisman fraternity for life - and that’s an incredible honor - but now the focus is on winning the College Football Playoff.”
Indiana, undefeated at 13-0 and the No. 1 seed in the CFP, doesn’t take the field again until Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl. Their opponent will be decided Friday night when Oklahoma and Alabama square off in Norman. But while the rest of the country waits to see who the Hoosiers will face, Mendoza and his teammates are already back to business.
He called the Heisman a “push of confidence” for the entire team - a symbol of how far they’ve come and a reminder of what’s still ahead.
“This trophy makes the journey sweeter, but the season’s trophy - the national championship - that’s the one we’re chasing now,” Mendoza said. “We’re 13-0, we brought the Heisman to Bloomington, and now we’re pushing forward. Even this morning, in the weight room, the vibe was clear - we’re humble, and we’re hungry.”
That mindset - humble and hungry - has been a theme for Mendoza all season. And it carried over into his Heisman acceptance speech, which drew widespread praise for its authenticity, emotion, and message of perseverance. Mendoza credited his preparation for the moment, saying he leaned on advice from former Heisman winner Tim Tebow.
“Preparation is huge for me,” he said. “It’s what builds confidence.
Tim Tebow told me not to live in the past or walk on eggshells, but to make decisions you won’t regret. That stuck with me.
Whether it was Ohio State week or any other game, I wanted to be able to lay my head down at night knowing I did everything I could.”
That mindset extended to his speech, which he practiced extensively - even if the nerves still kicked in once he hit the stage.
“I rehearsed it a lot - sounded a lot better in the mirror,” Mendoza joked. “But once I got up there, I was nervous.
I started stuttering a little bit. Still, I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback.
I think it was important to show love to everyone who helped me along the way.”
One of the speech’s most powerful moments came when Mendoza echoed a message once delivered by Devonta Smith during his own Heisman acceptance - a message for the underdogs.
“I was a two-star recruit, committed to Yale,” Mendoza said. “So I felt it was my duty to pass that message on: if you’re too small, too raw, too anything - don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.
That underdog story matters. Hopefully it reaches someone out there who needs to hear it.”
Mendoza’s weekend in New York wasn’t just about the trophy. He made sure to enjoy the moment with his teammates, who joined him for the celebration.
“There were a lot of people there, but we know how to carry ourselves,” he said. “We don’t need anything extra to have fun. We just feed off each other, and that’s what makes it special.”
The emotions of the week - the awards, the media, the spotlight - were heavy. But Mendoza says he’s now in the right headspace for what’s next.
“It was a little bit of a mental recovery,” he admitted. “But now, I’m in a good place.
I’m humble, and I’m hungry. It’s time to get back to work.”
And with the Heisman in the rearview mirror and a national championship in sight, Mendoza and Indiana are officially on the clock.