A storybook season never boils down to a single event. Here are 15 key moments that led No. 15 to college football’s most prestigious individual award.
1. Fernando Mendoza takes photo with Heisman Trophy on Yale visit (2021)
Before heading to Cal for the first three years of his college career, Mendoza was committed to Yale. While on his official visit, he took a photo with one of the Bulldogs’ Heisman Trophies, given to the school when Larry Kelley and Clint Frank won the trophy in the mid-1930s.
“It was more of a funny thing,” Mendoza said on Tuesday. “Look how cool it is, I get to hold the Heisman.”
Mendoza likely had little inkling that, four years later, he would be responsible for the trophy having a permanent home on the IU campus in Bloomington.
2. Alberto Mendoza commits to James Madison (June 30, 2023)
One of the most important wrinkles in Fernando’s journey to college football stardom lies in his younger brother choosing to continue his football career at James Madison, where Curt Cignetti was fresh off his first of back-to-back Sun Belt East titles after spearheading the program’s transition from the FCS to the FBS. Like Fernando, Alberto was a state champion at Columbus High School in Miami, and the younger member of the Mendoza tandem chose the Dukes over Appalachian State, Toledo and East Carolina.
3. Indiana hires Curt Cignetti Indiana (Nov. 30, 2023)
Cignetti caught the eye of Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson and university president Pamela Whitten, who made it clear to him that they would fully devote the resources necessary for him to attempt a turnaround similar to what he pulled off at JMU, Elon and IU-Pennsylvania.
Cignetti inherited a program that was 9-27 over its previous three seasons combined, bringing many players with him from Harrisonburg, Virginia, to Bloomington. Among that group was none other than Alberto Mendoza, who was No. 3 on the QB depth chart behind Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke and Tayven Jackson in 2024.
4. Kurtis Rourke’s success proves Cignetti’s formula works at the Power 4 level (2024)
Rourke earned MAC MVP honors with the Bobcats in 2022, but much like Cignetti, questions loomed around whether or not his success would translate to the Big Ten. Under the mentorship of quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri, Rourke threw for over 3,000 yards and set an Indiana program record with 29 passing touchdowns, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors and proving that Cignetti’s system works at the highest level of college football.
After leading Indiana to its first 11-win season and College Football Playoff berth in program history, Rourke was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft by San Francisco, further cementing Bloomington as a destination for other transfer quarterbacks looking to further their development.
5. Fernando enters transfer portal after three seasons at Cal (Dec. 11, 2024)
The elder Mendoza brother redshirted his first season with the Golden Bears before appearing in nine games as a redshirt freshman and starting 11 as a redshirt sophomore in 2024. He completed 69% of his passes for 3,004 yards despite taking 41 sacks, which was the second-most among FBS quarterbacks, behind only Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders (42).
Notably, Mendoza led Cal to an upset win at Auburn in its second game of the season while also helping the Golden Bears make an appearance on College Gameday when they hosted No. 8 Miami, losing by one point after the Hurricanes staged a 20-point comeback in the fourth quarter. Fernando was one of the top five quarterbacks to enter the transfer portal.
6. Indiana beats out Georgia and Missouri for Fernando (Dec. 24, 2024)
Showing that it had the NIL resources to hang with SEC schools, Indiana secured Fernando’s commitment shortly after its exit from the inaugural 12-team Playoff in December 2024. Heading to Bloomington over Athens, Georgia and Columbia, Missouri was a no-brainer for Fernando not just because of Cignetti’s track record of talent evaluation and development, but also because of Alberto.
“To be able to play with my brother for one or two years would be a phenomenal experience,” Fernando said in a February interview with Hoosiers Connect. “We push each other. We’re still going to compete, and that’s what I love about Alberto.”
Alberto served as Fernando’s backup in the regular season, getting opportunities to run the office once games were in hand for Indiana.
7. Fernando throws five touchdown passes in 63-10 rout of No. 9 Illinois (Sept. 20, 2025)
Indiana cruised through its non-conference schedule, and its first real test came against then-No. 9 Illinois in primetime. Kickstarted by a punt-block touchdown from First Team All-Big Ten defensive back D’Angelo Ponds, the Hoosiers passed that test with flying colors, picking up their most lopsided win ever against a top-10 team.
Mendoza was surgical in his first outing on national television in an Indiana uniform, completing 21 of his 23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns, including 17 consecutive completions before the backups took the field in the fourth quarter.
“After that, some of my friends sent it to me,” Fernando said Tuesday. “Like, ‘Oh, you’re in the Heisman race.’”
Fernando’s response was wise beyond his years: “Maybe I can show my kids.”
8. After throwing an interception, Mendoza leads game-winning drive at Iowa (Sept. 27)
Responding to adversity was a theme throughout Indiana’s undefeated, Big Ten Championship-winning season. The Hoosiers’ first road game was the physical, gritty game that Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes hoped it would be when they welcomed No. 11 Indiana to Kinnick Stadium.
Iowa finished the regular season top-four among Big Ten teams in total defense, and it gave the visitors everything they could handle in search of an upset win. With under three minutes left in the fourth quarter and the score tied, 13-13, Mendoza threw a pass over the middle that was intercepted by Iowa defensive back Zach Lutmer, who returned it inside the Indiana 30-yard line.
The Hawkeyes couldn’t pay off the key defensive play. Kicker Drew Stevens missed a go-ahead field goal attempt, and Mendoza led his first game-winning drive of the season. Iowa sent the house on third and 10 near midfield and Mendoza found Elijah Sarratt on a quick slant. “Waffle House” broke a tackle and dashed 49 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
While he was far from perfect — 13-for-23, 233 yards, two touchdowns and an interception — Mendoza came through when it mattered most.
“At the end of the day, he passed the test because he made the key play,” Cignetti said postgame.
9. After throwing a pick-six, Mendoza leads go-ahead touchdown drive at No. 3 Oregon (Oct. 11)
After the Iowa win and a bye week, No. 7 Indiana headed to Autzen Stadium in search of its first win in program history over a top-five opponent. Before their game against then-No. 3 Oregon, the Hoosiers were 0-46 all-time against top-five opponents. The Ducks hadn’t lost at Autzen Stadium since 2022.
Once again showing irreverence for history, Curt Cignetti and Indiana shocked many in the college football world on a gray fall Saturday in Eugene. It happened largely because defensive coordinator Bryant Haines concocted a gameplan that held Oregon’s offense without a touchdown after the first quarter, but also because Mendoza again got punched in the gut and answered with a game-defining drive.
Early in the fourth quarter, star freshman cornerback Brandon Finney Jr. intercepted Mendoza and returned it 22 yards for a game-tying touchdown. Finney gave the Ducks life after their five previous possessions ended with four punts and a missed field goal.
Mendoza and the Indiana offense took the energy out of the 64,000-person crowd, staying ahead of the chains and capping a 12-play, six-minute drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Sarratt, who celebrated by breaking the Oregon “O” in half with his hands as the Hoosiers took a 27-20 lead with 6:23 left in the fourth quarter.
Haines’ defense did the rest, intercepting Oregon quarterback Dante Moore on back-to-back drives while adding a field goal to seal the 30-20 Indiana win and put the Hoosiers not only in the Big Ten title race, but also on the map as one of the nation’s best teams. By proxy, Mendoza became one of the Heisman frontrunners.
“That is resiliency right there,” Cignetti said postgame.
10. Mendoza throws as many touchdown passes as incompletions in homecoming win over Michigan State (Oct. 18)
There was no such thing as a trap game for No. 3 Indiana following its historic win at Oregon. Mendoza treated the Hoosiers’ homecoming crowd to an efficient performance against a struggling Michigan State team, completing 24 of his 28 passes for 332 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-13 victory.
This game featured some of Mendoza’s most eye-popping throws, including a dime to Sarratt for his second touchdown reception of the game. Mendoza’s excellent ball placement and timing were on full display.
11. With pressure in his face, Mendoza throws game-winning touchdown pass to Omar Cooper, who makes a circus catch to beat Penn State (Nov. 8)
This play is regarded as the catch of the year by many, not just because of Cooper’s absurd body control and athleticism but also the fact that, without it, Indiana likely does not go undefeated and Mendoza does not have a rock-solid case for the Heisman. The No. 2-ranked Hoosiers entered Beaver Stadium in search of their first-ever road win at Penn State.
Although the Nittany Lions were downtrodden after the firing of head coach James Franklin and a season-ending injury to quarterback Drew Allar, their high-end talent took Indiana to the brink. Penn State surged to a 24-20 lead with 6:27 left in the fourth quarter after Mendoza threw an interception near midfield, but the Indiana quarterback answered yet another gut check.
After the teams exchanged punts, Indiana took over at its own 20-yard line with 1:51 left, with no timeouts remaining. Mendoza was sacked on the first play of the drive but responded with a 22-yard completion to Cooper, a quick out to E.J. Williams and a 29-yard dart up the seam to tight end Riley Nowakowski.
Filling in for an injured Sarratt, Charlie Becker capped his breakout game with an acrobatic catch to put Indiana in a goal-to-go situation with under a minute left. Mendoza threw a pair of incompletions, leaving little margin for error on third and goal with 36 seconds separating Penn State from a season-defining upset victory.
Mendoza dropped back to pass, saw the Nittany Lions sending pressure in search of their sixth sack of the game, and threw a bullet to Cooper in the back of the end zone, who tiptoed one foot inbounds while dangling his other foot above the white chalk, scoring the go-ahead touchdown by mere millimeters.
The touchdown call was upheld after video review, and Fox play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson proclaimed, “Give him the Heisman!”
Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer’s Hail Mary pass fell incomplete as time expired, which saw Indiana improve to 10-0 and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in Happy Valley.
“Anybody looking for a Heisman moment, there it is,” linebacker Aiden Fisher said postgame. “That dude’s earned it. He’s the best player in the country, and he showed that today.”
12. Mendoza throws four touchdowns, breaks passing TD record against Wisconsin on Senior Day (Nov. 15)
Playing its sixth game in as many weeks, Indiana came out sluggish in its final home game of the season. There was a smattering of boos as the Hoosiers jogged into the locker room at halftime, leading Wisconsin 10-7.
Mendoza was unfazed, settling in against a talented but young Wisconsin defense and finishing his final game at Memorial Stadium 22-for-24 through the air, passing for 299 yards and four touchdowns. He broke Rourke’s single-season passing touchdown record on a five-yard touchdown connection with Cooper, getting serenaded with “HeisMendoza” chants as he jogged off Merchants Bank Field for the final time.
“This was the first game I saw where my family sits,” Mendoza said postgame. “When I was able to see them, it gave me an overwhelming sense of emotion. I’m so proud to play for them.”
13. HeisMendoza campaign launches, headlined by LinkedIn account (Nov. 17)
Indiana kept its cards close to its chest until its second bye week, when it went all-in on Mendoza’s Heisman campaign. The highlight: A LinkedIn account for “Fernando HeisMendoza,” a nod to how the only social media Mendoza has on his phone is LinkedIn.
The page describes the Indiana signal-caller as a “process-driven and detail-oriented leader for Indiana University’s football program,” while listing skills including working well under pressure, touchdown passes and high fives. Much like the quarterback it represents, Indiana’s Heisman campaign is anything but flashy.
14. Mendoza’s 33-yard completion to Charlie Becker seals Indiana’s first outright Big Ten title in 80 years (Dec. 6)
Becker went from being Sarratt’s backup to making season-defining plays, and there was no catch bigger than his final grab against Ohio State. Mendoza found Becker six times for a team-high 126 yards in the Big Ten championship game, including a 33-yard fade route with 2:26 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Indiana clung to a 13-10 lead and, pinned deep in its own territory, a stagnant drive meant that the Buckeyes would get the ball back with a chance to tie or win the game. The Hoosiers’ run game struggled against Ohio State’s star-studded front seven, so Cignetti put the game and the conference title in the hands of his quarterback.
On third and six at its own 24-yard line, Mendoza took a quick dropback and threw a perfect spiral to Becker, who beat Ohio State defensive back Jermaine Matthews Jr. and made the catch in stride at the Buckeyes’ 43-yard line.
From there, Indiana bled the clock down to 18 seconds, punted back to Ohio State, and held off a Hail Mary attempt to win its first solo Big Ten Championship since 1945. This bout between Mendoza and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin was likely to determine the Heisman winner, and the man the Hoosiers turned to in countless high-leverage spots came through once more to silence any remaining doubters.
Mendoza remained humble when asked about what Dec. 6 meant to him.
“It’s not a player award,” he said of the Heisman Trophy. “It’s a team award. I think it speaks a testament to how much this team has had that never-ending process of learning and getting better, and that has culminated at this point.”
15. Mendoza hoists the Heisman Trophy in New York (Dec. 13)
After leading the charge in year two of Cignetti’s unparalleled turnaround in Bloomington, Mendoza stands onstage in New York, forever enshrined among the all-time greats in college football. He completed 71.5% of his passes for 2,980 yards, accounting for a program-record 39 touchdowns. Indiana went 13-0 en route to a historic Big Ten Championship and the No. 1 seed in the Playoff. Mendoza led the charge, winning with remarkable humility and a refreshing sense of authenticity.
