Fernando Mendoza
Indiana junior Fernando Mendoza is the first Hoosier to hoist the nation’s oldest and most prestigious quarterback trophy. In addition, he is just the 12th player ever to win the Heisman Trophy and a national championship in the same season, a list that includes Davey O’Brien (TCU, 1938).
The Hoosiers finished the season 16-0, a record not achieved at the NCAA’s highest level since Yale in 1894, and claimed its first-ever national championship. Mendoza is the first Davey O’Brien Award recipient from the Big Ten Conference since Ohio State’s Troy Smith in 2006. It was the second straight year that a transfer quarterback won the Davey O’Brien Award in his first season with a team (Cameron Ward, Miami).
Mendoza led the nation in passing touchdowns (41), points responsible for (288), total quarterback rating (90.3) and passing efficiency (187.9). Additionally, he ranked third in completion percentage (.720) and 13th in passing yards (3,535). Overall, he completed 273 of 379 pass attempts for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns against six interceptions. He also rushed 90 times for 276 yards and seven more scores. His 48 total touchdowns smashed the single-season school record.
Mendoza enjoyed six games completing at least 85 percent of his passes, including three games topping 90 percent. He also threw four or more passing touchdowns six times, including against Oregon in the CFP Semifinal at the Peach Bowl. Against then-No. 9 Illinois on Sept. 20, he completed 21 of 23 passes (91.3 percent) for 267 yards and five touchdowns, while he was 22-for-24 for 299 yards and four touchdowns against Wisconsin on Nov. 15.
In addition to the Davey O’Brien Award and the Heisman Trophy, Mendoza won the Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and was named the Associated Press Player of the Year. He also earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Quarterback of the Year accolades in addition to being named First-Team All-Big Ten. Mendoza was named to the weekly Davey O’Brien Great 8 three times during the year and was the National Quarterback of the Week in Week 4.
