Fernando Mendoza is the winner of the 2025 Heisman Trophy following a standout season in which he threw for 33 touchdowns and 2,980 yards to help <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/indiana">Indiana</a> establish a 13-0 record. The season was undoubtedly a showcase of his talent as a quarterback and the significant potential he has to offer.



Now, as a Heisman winner, Fernando Mendoza will have an extra boost heading into the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nfl">NFL</a>, where he is sure to be a highly contested pick by teams in need of a top quarterback with innate talent and the potential to be a franchise centerpiece.



For Indiana, Fernando Mendoza winning the Heisman is a tremendously important achievement, as it is the first time in program history that one of their players has won the trophy. Furthermore, thanks to him, the team won a conference title this season, something that had not happened since 1945.



<h2>Mendoza’s Heisman acceptance speech</h2>



Among the things Mendoza said after winning the Heisman, he spoke about how sometimes you don’t need the highest-ranked players or rankings to go far with a team; the important factors are focus and believing that the talent you possess is enough to succeed.



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“The truth is, you don’t need the most stars, hype, or rankings. You just need discipline, heart, and people who believe, and you need to believe in your own abilities. I hope this moment shows you that chasing your dreams is worth it.”



He also dedicated some words to his former team: “To my Cal family, thank you for being the first to believe in my future. Thank you for the opportunity, educating me and giving me the foundation that enabled me to grow into the person I am today.”



And of course, he didn’t forget his mother: “Mom, this is your trophy as much as it is mine. You’ve always been my biggest fan … Your sacrifices, courage, love…,” Mendoza said. “Those have been my first playbook and the playbook that I’m gonna carry by my side, through my entire life…”

Fernando Mendoza named the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, capping a dominant year

Fernando Mendoza named the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, capping a dominant year - Bolavip US

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In college football, the game isn’t over until the whistle blows and zeros are on the clock. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/indiana" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indiana Hoosiers</a> quarterback Fernando Mendoza made sure of that—and then some—during his program’s road win over the Iowa Hawkeyes.



Week 5 of the 2025 NCAA season had no shortage of drama. Across the country, Saturday was packed with tension and high-voltage action. That was also true for the matchup between Indiana and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/iowa-hawkeyes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iowa</a>, which ended in a 20-15 victory for the visiting Hoosiers in Iowa City.



However, the game could’ve ended in a 20–13 triumph had it not been for a controversial play by Mendoza to close things out. With only three seconds left on fourth down, Mendoza was snapped the football before running all the way back to his own end zone. 



Taking the safety assured Iowa two points, but not the football back. The clock, however, had already hit zero well before Mendoza reached the end zone. As a result, many fans across the nation erupted in outcry as their bets were lost on a seemingly meaningless play. Now, Indiana’s signal-caller has spoken on the “money-costing” fiasco.



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">ONE OF THE WORST BEATS YOU WILL EVER SEE The 2H spread was Indiana -5.5. It was tied at 10 at halftime. Fernando Mendoza runs back 40 yards to take a safety to end the game and Indiana wins by 5 🤮 🤮 🤮<a href="https://t.co/e38kMMuGRQ">pic.twitter.com/e38kMMuGRQ</a>— Pikkit (@pikkitsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/pikkitsports/status/1972076669319184578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2025</a></blockquote></div>



“I didn’t want to ever put our team in jeopardy,” Fernando Mendoza said after the game, per On3. “Maybe if I slide with one second left, there might be some quirk where we might have to punt it. I just wanted to get out of the safety, and I know I shouldn’t be saying this, I probably cooked people’s spreads and I really apologize for that. However, in that moment, my goal was to win the game.”


 

 

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<h2>Betting on themselves</h2>



As much or as little as Mendoza’s apologies do to the fans upset across the country, fans in Bloomington couldn’t care any less about it. Neither do the Hoosiers, who remain undefeated at 5-0 in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/ncaa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NCAA</a> and 2-0 in the Big Ten. If anything, Indiana is happy to cash in on the wager they care: winning football games. The Hoosiers are putting all of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-football" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">college football</a> on notice. 



“They aren’t happy,” Mendoza added. “But I definitely put my apologies out to them. For us, we are looking out for the Indiana moneyline, which is a win.”


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This win on the road over Iowa is a big step in the right direction and morale-boosting for a team that will need to be firing in all cylinders in their upcoming matchup. On October 11, the Hoosiers will make a trip to the Northwest, where the Oregon Ducks await in Eugene for one of the biggest matchups of college football’s Week 7.

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Indiana star Fernando Mendoza sets the record straight on controversial final play in win vs Iowa - Bolavip US

Indiana's Mendoza sets the record straight on controversial final play in win vs Iowa

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