Indiana soccer is formally a big-time program. It has climbed to the No. 1 spot within the nation. Now it has a Heisman Trophy winner.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza continued what has been the very best yr within the historical past of the varsity’s soccer program by securing the primary Heisman Trophy for a Hoosiers participant.
He received the award on Saturday evening, beating out Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and Notre Dame working again Jeremiyah Love.
Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman win completes main award sweep
Mendoza’s Heisman win on Saturday not solely places Indiana into the Heisman registry, however it additionally completes a significant award-season sweep by Mendoza.
On Friday evening, he took house the Maxwell Award (most excellent participant) and the O’Brien Award (greatest quarterback) to start his award weekend.
He’s the thirteenth quarterback to win all three awards in the identical season, going again to the beginning of the 1980 season. The opposite quarterbacks on that checklist are Bryce Younger, Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield, Marcus Mariota, Cam Newton, Tim Tebow, Danny Wuerffel, Charlie Ward, Gino Torretta, Ty Detmer, Vinny Testaverde and Doug Flutie.
It’s a formidable checklist of among the greatest school soccer quarterbacks over the previous 4 many years, and now Mendoza is part of it.
His subsequent two orders of enterprise: Persevering with Indiana’s pursuit of a nationwide championship and furthering his draft inventory because the potential No. 1 general choose within the 2026 NFL Draft.
He has thrown for two,980 yards and 33 touchdowns this season to solely six interceptions, whereas additionally speeding for 240 yards and 6 touchdowns.
He joined the Hoosiers this season after enjoying the earlier two years at California. He has been an ideal slot in Indiana’s offense and never solely helped this system get again to the faculty soccer playoff for the second yr in a row, but additionally took an enormous step ahead and develop into a real nationwide energy.
