Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman Moment Is Just the Beginning for Indiana’s Star QB
Fernando Mendoza didn’t just bring a Heisman Trophy back to Bloomington - he brought back belief. In himself.
In his team. And in a program that’s rewriting its place in college football history.
The Indiana quarterback returned home from New York with more than hardware. He came back with Tim Tebow’s advice ringing in his ears, Archie Griffin’s number in his phone, and a sore arm - not from throwing touchdowns, but from passing the Heisman around Times Square with his teammates.
“Great weekend, great experience,” Mendoza said. “... But the page is now folded.”
That’s Mendoza in a nutshell - grounded, focused, and already looking ahead. The Heisman is in the rearview. The College Football Playoff is dead ahead.
A Historic Season, But the Job’s Not Done
Let’s not gloss over what Mendoza and Indiana have already accomplished. A 13-0 record.
A Big Ten championship. The school’s first-ever Heisman winner.
That alone would be enough to cement a legacy. But Mendoza isn’t interested in legacy talk just yet - not while there’s still football to be played.
“This is a little push of confidence,” he said. “We know we’re making history.
But we understand that we need to be humble and hungry. Now it's on to the real trophy, the season’s trophy.
The national championship.”
That’s been the tone around the Indiana locker room since Monday morning. No champagne hangover.
No victory lap. Just another day in the weight room - only this time, the guy lifting next to you is the best player in college football.
Mendoza’s focus is contagious. He’s not just the face of the program - he’s its heartbeat. And after a whirlwind weekend in New York, he’s back where he belongs: in the film room, in the huddle, locked in on the next challenge.
Lessons from Legends
The Heisman ceremony wasn’t just a celebration - it was a rite of passage. Mendoza met a dozen past winners, including some of the game's most iconic names.
He talked shop with Archie Griffin, the only two-time Heisman winner, even after Indiana’s stunning win over Griffin’s beloved Buckeyes. He listened as Tim Tebow told him to live in the moment - but prepare so thoroughly that regret never enters the picture.
“Those guys told me every year, the trophy means more to them,” Mendoza said. “... So I promised to carry it with honor, responsibility and humility.”
That humility showed in his speech - a blend of gratitude, resolve, and a nod to the underdogs. He thanked his grandparents in Spanish, quoted DeVonta Smith’s underdog message, and reminded every overlooked athlete that raw talent doesn’t mean you can’t shine on the biggest stage.
“I thought it sounded better in the mirror,” he joked. “And then I got up there and I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m nervous.’
But I’ve heard good feedback. … It was just important to me to thank everyone who helped me get here.
… And to say, if you're too small, you know, too raw to anything, don't let anybody knock you down. You can do it.”
A Times Square Trophy Tour
Before the cameras turned off and the lights dimmed, Mendoza shared his Heisman moment with the people who helped him get there - his teammates. A dozen of them made the trip to New York on their own dime, and they weren’t about to let the city sleep on the Hoosiers.
So they took the Heisman on a victory lap through Times Square.
No security detail. Just a handful of linemen clearing paths through crowds and costumed characters, chanting “Hoosiers on top,” snapping photos, and trading turns with the trophy like it was a game ball after a big win.
“We’re passing it off to each other … trying to get people out of the way to be able to take pictures in Times Square,” Mendoza said. “And I think it was a great time to be in the Big Apple. Such a great experience that I believe all of us will remember for the rest of our lives.”
It was a moment of joy, of brotherhood - and a reminder that this Indiana team isn’t just riding Mendoza’s coattails. They’re in this together. And they’re not done yet.
Eyes on the Prize
After the lights of New York faded and the whirlwind of interviews and appearances slowed down, Mendoza came back to campus with a renewed sense of purpose. The Heisman is a career-defining achievement, but for Mendoza, it’s not the final chapter - it’s just a turning point.
“I don’t even know if I’m deserving of this,” he said. “... But I believe I'm in a good state right now where I'm humble and I'm hungry, ready for the full playoff.”
That’s the Mendoza mindset - humble, hungry, and laser-focused. The Heisman is in the trophy case.
The Rose Bowl is on the horizon. And the national championship?
That’s the one he wants to lift next.
Because for all the history he’s already made, Fernando Mendoza knows the best stories are the ones still being written.