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Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza entered the game as one of the best players in the nation this season as the Big Ten school looks to finish the regular season undefeated.
The Cal transfer, who is in his first season at Indiana, has 2,641 passing yards and is tied for the national lead with 30 touchdown passes. He is among the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy this year with the best odds heading into the final regular-season game against Purdue, according to FOX Sports.
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Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) runs with the ball in the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 8, 2025. (Matthew O’Haren/Imagn Images)
Trent Green, himself an Indiana alum, noticed Mendoza’s ability and beat the drum for the young quarterback’s Heisman Trophy candidacy.
“Mendoza definitely deserves some Heisman support. I’m starting it right now. I think there’s a long list of people who have started it before me, but what he’s been able to do, what Curt Cignetti has been able to do since he came over as head coach. I thought last year was just a phenomenal season for them to get into the College Football Playoff recently,” Notre Fox told Dam Playoff.
Green pointed to the close games where Indiana was able to win in the fourth quarter. Late interceptions nearly crushed the Hoosiers, but Mendoza was able to lead his team to victories.
In one of those games, he found wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. for a clear touchdown. Cooper hit an incredible toe tap to complete the catch in bounds.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza runs off the field after an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Bloomington, Indiana (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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“Mendoza, you just talk about his character. I didn’t know much about him when he came over from Cal. There’s a reason guys follow him and he’s a leader and the guys in the locker room like him — his mental toughness,” Green said. “A lot is made of how smart he is and he works through progressions and he gets them in the right play and he uses his feet at the right time and he’s able to make every throw, but you think about the three tough road games they had — they were at Iowa, at Oregon and at Penn State — all those games, those were close games.
“He threw an early fourth quarter interception in all three of those games, but he was able to put that out of his mind, come back, will lead them on game-winning drives and throw a touchdown in the fourth quarter to win all those games on the road. So that just shows you the mental toughness that comes with all the talent he has.”
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza throws before an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Bloomington, Indiana. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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He amassed 5,136 passing yards and 31 touchdown passes in those four seasons.
