Fernando Mendoza Wins AP College Football Player of the Year Award amid Heisman Buzz

Fernando Mendoza added to his trophy case Thursday.

The Hoosiers quarterback was named the 2025 Associated Press College Football Player of the Year after leading his team to an undefeated record, the Big Ten championship and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

Mendoza was already named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, the Big Ten Quarterback of the Year, a First-Team All-Big Ten selection and the Walter Camp Award winner as the nation's most outstanding player.

It is all leading toward the Heisman Trophy ceremony Saturday, and he is heavily favored to take home college football's most prestigious individual award.

If he takes home the award, he will become the first player in Indiana history to win the Heisman.

Indiana Wins Big Ten Title

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That chance at history underscores what an incredible turnaround the Hoosiers have enjoyed under head coach Curt Cignetti with Mendoza leading the way. While the program has historically struggled, it made the CFP last season and took another step in 2025 after the star quarterback transferred from California.

He completed 71.5 percent of his passes for 2,980 yards, 33 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding 240 yards and six scores on the ground, but it was the moments in the team's biggest games that stood out more than the individual statistics.

Mendoza's touchdown pass in the final minute of a comeback win on the road over Penn State was arguably the most incredible single play of the season. He also directed a game-winning drive on the road at Oregon and then led the Hoosiers to a Big Ten championship game win over Ohio State with a second-half touchdown pass and key third-down conversion in the final minutes.

It was Indiana's first win over the Buckeyes in 31 tries, which ended a streak that dated back to 1988 and clinched the top seed in the 12-team CFP field.

No matter what happens in the postseason, he will forever be an Indiana legend for an incredible season thanks to all the individual accolades coming his way. Still, he will surely have his eye on one trophy once the CFP starts.