The echo of “HeisMendoza” has trailed Fernando Mendoza from Bloomington to the heart of New York City. After guiding the Hoosiers to a spotless 13-0 campaign and the program’s first-ever Big Ten championship, Mendoza now stands one night away from ending a drought that has lingered in Bloomington for more than three decades.

“It would mean the world, because this would be the first time the trophy would be in Bloomington,” said Mendoza ahead of the Heisman ceremony while speaking to Anthony Calhoun of Wish TV, “I believe that, if I were to win the award, I would wanna keep the trophy in Bloomington because it belongs there. That’s what I think, as far as everything that the Hoosier Nation has done for me.

“If I end up, even if I have the honor and blessing to end up winning it, I think it means so much for the fan base who stuck through the thick and thin to now this Cignetti era. And really just to have it there for my teammates, the Hoosier community, and all the alumni.”

Long before the bright lights of Manhattan, Mendoza once posed with a Heisman Trophy as a novelty during a recruiting visit to Yale. This weekend, the moment will be anything but symbolic. He arrives at the ceremony fresh off winning the Associated Press Player of the Year award and carrying the weight of history.

If his name is called, Mendoza would become Indiana University’s first Heisman winner and only the third recipient with Hispanic roots, a journey that feels especially meaningful for the lightly recruited Miami native. Entering the 2025 campaign, Mendoza wasn’t even featured in the top 10 Heisman contenders, but he brought himself into the conversation very early. He has been one of the Heisman Trophy favorites since the 63-10 win over Illinois on Sept. 20.

Despite such impressive performance, Mendoza has shied away from endorsing himself for the Heisman. Still, his teammates, fans, alumni, and others have voiced support, turning it into votes for the Heisman finalist. He is probably the first and only player to earn the (-) mark in front of the Heisman odds.

Fernando Mendoza ends Indiana’s Heisman drought

Indiana players have never won a Heisman Trophy in the school’s history. Not even on the final list in the last three and a half decades. Mendoza is already the only seventh player in the Hoosiers’ history to even finish in the top-10. The last time was in 2001, when Antwaan Randle El finished 6th in the voting.

The last Indiana player to ever reach the Heisman Trophy finalist was the former IU running back Anthony Thompson in 1989. The former ended up becoming the runner-up 36 years ago, falling behind Houston quarterback Andre Ware in one of the closest voting margins in history, 70 points.

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With less than a day to spare, Mendoza is currently the frontrunner for the Heisman race with -2000 odds, while Vanderbilt’s quarterback Diego Pavia is trailing behind with +900 odds. It’s a big difference, and Mendoza has the highest possibility of bringing the Heisman Trophy to Bloomington, ending the Hoosiers’ 36-year drought.