IU football quarterback Fernando Mendoza has posted video game numbers to start the 2025 season.
Through four games he has completed 76 of 99 (77%) throws for 975 yards, with 14 touchdowns and no interceptions. That’s despite a rather pedestrian performance in week one.
Projecting his start for the full 12-game regular season, Mendoza is on pace for 3,900 yards and 56 touchdowns.
Of course the challenge stiffens as Indiana goes on the road for games at Iowa, Oregon and Penn State in the weeks to come, so he’ll no doubt come off that pace. But Mendoza posted his best game off the young season thus far against Indiana’s best opponent — and on the biggest stage in front of national television audience.
The California transfer had a 21-for-23 passing day with 267 yards and tied a career-high five passing touchdowns against Illinois. His .910 (21-for-23) completion percentage put him at No. 3 on the IU game completion percentage charts, just a week after setting the program’s record of .950 (19-for-20) in Week 3 against Indiana State.
Much like Indiana’s team performance against Illinois, Mendoza’s massive evening leaves you wondering just what is possible in 2025 on an individual level.
Oddsmakers now believe he’s firmly in the running to be IU’s first ever Heisman Trophy winner.
In fact, the FanDuel sports book now projects Mendoza as the favorite to win the Heisman, while four other outlets have him as the runner-up behind Oklahoma’s John Mateer.
Legendary Hoosier Anthony Thompson was close to winning in 1989, finishing second in a controversial vote.
In 2024 Kurtis Rourke was Indiana’s highest finisher since running back Tevin Coleman finished seventh in 2014, and at least the sixth player to finish in the top-10. Here are IU’s all-time top finishers in the Heisman Trophy voting.
- Bill Hillenbrand — fifth in 1942
- Anthony Thompson — second in 1989
- Vaughn Dunbar — sixth in 1991
- Antwaan Randle El — sixth in 2001
- Tevin Coleman — seventh in 2014
- Kurtis Rourke — ninth in 2024
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