Indiana's Fernando Mendoza wins Heisman Trophy as college football's top player

"Fernando Mendoza, the enthusiastic quarterback of No 1 Indiana, won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, becoming the first Hoosier to win college football's most prestigious award since its inception in 1935. Mendoza claimed 2,362 points, including 643 first-place votes. He beat Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (1,435 points), Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (719 points) and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (432 points)."

"Mendoza's Heisman win was emphatic. He finished first in all six Heisman regions, the first to do so since Caleb Williams in 2022. He was named on 95.16% of all ballots, tying him with Marcus Mariota in 2014 for the second highest in the award's history and he received 84.6% of total possible points, which is the seventh highest in Heisman history."

"I haven't seen the numbers yet, said Mendoza, but it's such an honor to be mentioned with these guys [Pavia, Love and Sayin]. It's really a credit to our team. Mendoza guided the Hoosiers to their first No 1 ranking and the top seed in the 12-team College Football bracket, throwing for 2,980 yards and a national-best 33 touchdown passes while also running for six scores."

"Indiana, the last unbeaten team in major college football, will play a College Football Playoff quarter-final game in the Rose Bowl on 1 January. Mendoza, the Hoosiers' first-year starter after transferring from California, is the triggerman for an offense that surpassed program records for touchdowns and points set during last season's surprise run to the CFP. Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates a touchdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the third quarter of last week's Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium."

Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy with 2,362 points and 643 first-place votes, defeating Diego Pavia, Jeremiyah Love and Julian Sayin. Mendoza finished first in all six Heisman regions, was named on 95.16% of ballots and earned 84.6% of total possible points. Mendoza guided Indiana to its first No 1 ranking and the top seed in the 12-team College Football bracket. He threw for 2,980 yards, led the nation with 33 touchdown passes and ran for six scores. Mendoza is a redshirt junior and first-year starter after transferring from California, marking a historic achievement for Indiana.

Read at www.theguardian.com