NEW YORK – Indiana redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the school’s first Heisman Memorial Trophy as college football's most outstanding player Saturday night, capping a stunning two-year turnaround for the Hoosiers, the No. 1 seed in this year's College Football Playoff.
Mendoza coming out of nowhere to win the award is an understatement, as he was not listed on any of the Heisman Trophy oddsmakers' lists or the Big Ten Conference's preseason honors lists.
None of that mattered to the 22-year-old Miami, Florida product, as he completed 71.5% of his passes for 2,980 yards. He led the nation with 33 touchdown passes (an Indiana school record), ranked second in passer rating, and was the third Big Ten quarterback since 2000 with three-straight games of at least four passing touchdowns and no interceptions.
More: Fernando Mendoza steps into Heisman spotlight as Indiana’s reluctant star
Who is No. 1? Ranking best, worst Heisman Trophy winners since 2000
