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Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza entered the fray as one of the best players in the nation this season, as the Big Ten school is set 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 and has the best odds heading into the regular season finale against Purdue, according to FOX Sports.
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Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) runs with the ball during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 8, 2025. (Matthew O’Haren/Imagn Images)
Trent Green, an Indiana alumnus, took notice of Mendoza’s ability and was beating the drum for the young quarterback’s candidacy for the Heisman Trophy.
“Mendoza definitely deserves some Heisman support. I’m going to start 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 took over as head coach, I thought last year was a phenomenal season for them to get to the College Football Playoff to play Notre Dame,” Green told Pak Gazette Digital in a recent interview.
Green pointed out the close games where Indiana was able to pull out wins in the fourth quarter. Late interceptions nearly crushed the Hoosiers, but Mendoza was able to lead his team to victory.
In one of those games, he found wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. for the go-ahead touchdown. Cooper made an incredible kick to complete the inbounds catch.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza runs off the field following an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, 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 from Cal. There’s a reason why guys follow him and he’s a leader and the guys in the locker room like him: his mental toughness,” Green said. “There’s a lot of talk about how smart he is and he works through progressions and puts them in the right play and uses his feet at the right time and is able to make all the throws, but you think about the three tough games they had on the road (they were at Iowa, Oregon and Penn State), all of those games were close games.
“He threw an interception early in the fourth quarter in those three games, but he was able to put that out of his mind, come back, lead them on winning drives and throw a touchdown in the fourth quarter to win all of those road games. So, that just shows the mental toughness that goes 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 accumulated 5,136 passing yards and 31 touchdown passes in those four seasons.
