Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza capped off a dream season this week, guiding the Hoosiers to their first national championship and becoming the program’s first Latino Heisman Trophy winner. His ascent from an overlooked recruit to a national star has struck a chord far beyond the football world, resonating with fans across the country and inspiring people from all walks of life.
Mendoza’s defining moment came on a fourth‑down touchdown run that sealed Indiana’s 27–21 victory over Miami. The gutsy quarterback draw pushed the Hoosiers ahead by 10 in the fourth quarter, a dagger of a play that ultimately secured the national title.
After the game, Mendoza was still catching his breath when he tried to put the moment into words. “First, I want to give all the glory to God,” he said, looking around at his teammates. “This is the most special moment of my life. Such a great group of guys — I love you all. Great job. Let’s (expletive) go!”
Mendoza threw for more than 3,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, guiding Indiana to a perfect 16–0 record this season. His teammates describe him as calm, steady, and relentlessly focused. Mendoza credits his family and upbringing for that foundation. “My mother is my light. She’s my everything. She’s my why,” he said.
Mendoza is a longtime advocate for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a cause that hits close to home as his mother, Elsa, lives with multiple sclerosis. He and his brother have turned that commitment into creative fundraising, partnering with local restaurants in the college towns where they’ve played to develop special menu items whose proceeds support MS research. Their efforts have produced dishes like the “Mendoza Burrito” at La Burrita in Berkeley, the “Mendoza Bros. Burger” at BuffaLouie’s, and the “Mendoza Bros. Cubano” at Gable’s Bagels in Bloomington — each one a small but meaningful way to raise awareness and funds for the MS community.
Mendoza often points to his Cuban heritage as a driving force behind both his and his brother’s passion for football. In a 2025 interview with the Indiana University Bloomington outlet Peegs.com, he explained their motivation plainly: “Alberto and I play football not for ourselves, not for fulfillment and satisfaction of ourselves—we have a lot of whys why we do it for. One of the whys is our mom. Another why is our entire family. Our entire family comes from a Cuban background. All of our grandparents were born and raised in Cuba, and that’s something we always take deeply to heart.”
All four of his grandparents were born and raised in Cuba, later moving to Miami in 1959 in the aftermath of the Cuban Revolution. Mendoza was born in Boston and raised in Miami, he has often spoken about the Latino pride he carries into every game. On the eve of the Heisman Trophy ceremony, he reflected on what his success meant beyond football. “What a special moment for the Hispanic community,” Mendoza told reporters. “It shows all the Hispanic kids out there — whether you’re Cuban, Mexican, whatever your background — that you can make it. You can do it. This is a new age of Hispanic kids coming up.”
first Latino quarterback to win a national championship and the Heisman in the same season
With NFL scouts projecting him as a potential No. 1 pick, Mendoza’s story is still being written. But for now, his impact is already clear. He has become a symbol of possibility — not just for Indiana football, not just for Latino athletes nationwide, but for all the underdogs.
“I want every kid out there who feels overlooked, underestimated to know I was you… You just need discipline, heart and people who believe in you,” Mendoza said in his Heisman acceptance speech.
Hugo Balta is the publisher of the Latino News Network, the executive editor of The Fulcrum, and twice president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.