Fernando Mendoza Eyes Rare Heisman-National Championship Double as Indiana Chases Perfection
The Heisman Trophy isn’t just a nod to the best player in college football-it’s a spotlight, a legacy, and often, a prelude to a shot at immortality. This year, that spotlight shines on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who’s got a chance to do something that hasn’t been done in over a century: lead his team to a perfect 16-0 season and bring a national title back to Bloomington.
It’s been a storybook season for Mendoza, who’s already etched his name in the history books by becoming the 2025 Heisman winner. But the final chapter is still unwritten.
Standing in his way? A showdown with Miami in the national championship game.
If Indiana pulls it off, they’ll join Yale-yes, 1894 Yale-as the only major college football teams to finish a season 16-0.
That’s the kind of history we’re talking about.
But Mendoza is also chasing a more modern milestone: joining the short list of Heisman-winning quarterbacks who capped their award-winning seasons with a national championship. Only four quarterbacks have pulled off the Heisman-title double since the BCS era began.
The last to do it? Jameis Winston back in 2013 with Florida State.
It’s rarer than you might think. Since the start of the BCS era, Heisman-winning quarterbacks are just 4-7 in national title games.
The pressure, the spotlight, the defenses-they all get tougher when the stakes are highest. Mendoza has the chance to flip that trend, but history shows it’s no easy task.
Let’s take a look at the Heisman QBs who came up short in the title game despite historic seasons:
Bryce Young - Alabama (2021)
Young had a monster sophomore campaign, throwing for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns while tossing just seven picks. He became the first quarterback in Alabama history to win the Heisman, edging out Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson and others.
But in the national title game against Georgia, things unraveled late. Young threw for 369 yards and a touchdown, but two second-half interceptions shifted the momentum. Alabama had the edge early, but Georgia capitalized on the turnovers and took control, eventually sealing the win and the championship.
Marcus Mariota - Oregon (2014)
Mariota was the engine behind one of the most efficient offenses college football had seen. He passed for 4,454 yards and 42 touchdowns, added 770 yards and 15 more scores on the ground, and threw just four picks all season.
In the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship, Oregon faced Ohio State. Mariota put up solid numbers-333 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception-but a second-quarter turnover swung the game. Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott ran wild, racking up 246 yards and four touchdowns, and the Ducks couldn’t keep pace.
Sam Bradford - Oklahoma (2008)
Bradford lit up defenses in 2008, leading the highest-scoring offense in the nation with 4,720 passing yards and 50 touchdowns. He added five rushing scores and limited mistakes, with just eight interceptions.
In the BCS title game, he faced off against Tim Tebow and Florida. It was a heavyweight battle, with both quarterbacks throwing two touchdowns and two interceptions.
But with the Gators clinging to a 17-14 lead in the fourth, Bradford was picked off by Ahmad Black. Tebow capitalized with a touchdown pass to David Nelson, and Oklahoma’s final drive fizzled out.
Troy Smith - Ohio State (2006)
Smith’s senior season was his best-2,542 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and a 65.3% completion rate, all tops in the Big Ten. He had the Buckeyes rolling into the title game against Florida.
Then the wheels came off.
After Ohio State opened with a 93-yard kickoff return touchdown from Ted Ginn Jr., Florida dominated. Smith completed just 4-of-14 passes for 35 yards and an interception. The Buckeyes were overwhelmed, losing 41-14 in a game that never felt close after the first few minutes.
Jason White - Oklahoma (2003)
White was at the helm of a high-powered Sooners offense, throwing for 3,846 yards and 40 touchdowns. He became Oklahoma’s fourth Heisman winner.
But in the BCS Championship against LSU, White struggled mightily. He completed just 13-of-37 passes for 102 yards and threw two interceptions. LSU’s defense, led by Nick Saban, clamped down hard, and the Tigers held on for a 21-14 win.
Eric Crouch - Nebraska (2001)
Crouch was the definition of a dual-threat quarterback. He passed for 1,510 yards and seven touchdowns, but it was his legs that made him special-1,115 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground.
But the BCS title game against Miami was a mismatch. The Hurricanes jumped out to a 34-0 halftime lead, and Nebraska never recovered. Crouch led the team in rushing with 114 yards, but completed just 5-of-15 passes for 62 yards and a pick in a 37-14 loss.
Chris Weinke - Florida State (2000)
Weinke’s senior year was a prolific one: 4,167 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and an 11-2 record. He led the Seminoles to the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma for the national title.
But the Sooners’ defense stifled him. Weinke went 25-for-51 for 274 yards but threw two interceptions and no touchdowns. Florida State managed just a safety in a 13-2 loss.
What’s at Stake for Mendoza
Fernando Mendoza has already made history with his Heisman win. Now, he’s got a shot at something even bigger-immortality. A national title would not only make him the fifth quarterback to win both in the same season, but also deliver Indiana its first-ever national championship and a perfect 16-0 season, something that hasn’t been done since the 19th century.
The pressure is real, and the past shows how tough this road can be. But if Mendoza can finish what he started, he won’t just be remembered as a Heisman winner-he’ll be remembered as a legend.