Fernando Mendoza, the mercurial quarterback of No. 1 Indiana, gained the Heisman Trophy on Saturday evening, changing into the primary Hoosier to win faculty soccer’s maximum prestigious award since its inception in 1935.
Mendoza claimed 2,362 first position votes. He beat Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (1,435 votes), Notre Dame working again Jeremiyah Love (719 votes) and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (432 votes).
Mendoza guided the Hoosiers to their first No. 1 score and the highest seed within the 12-team Faculty Soccer bracket, throwing for two,980 yards and a national-best 33 landing passes whilst additionally working for 6 ratings. Indiana, the remaining unbeaten workforce in main faculty soccer, will play a Faculty Soccer Playoff quarterfinal sport within the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
Charlie Neibergall / AP 
Mendoza, the Hoosiers’ first-year starter after moving from California, is the triggerman for an offense that surpassed program data for touchdowns and issues set all through remaining season’s wonder run to the CFP.
A redshirt junior, the as soon as evenly recruited Miami local is the second one Heisman finalist in class historical past, becoming a member of 1989 runner-up Anthony Thompson. Mendoza is the 7th Indiana participant to earn a top-10 end in Heisman voting and it marks every other first in program historical past – having back-to-back gamers within the peak 10. Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke was once 9th remaining 12 months.
Quarterbacks have gained the Heisman 4 of the remaining 5 years, with two-way participant Travis Hunter of Colorado finishing the run remaining season.
