Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was named the inaugural Hispanic Football Hall of Fame College Player of the Year on Dec. 18, an honor recognizing the nation’s most outstanding Hispanic college football player.

Mendoza, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound junior from Miami, delivered a historic 2025 season, completing 226 of 316 passes for 2,980 yards and a nation-leading 33 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 240 yards and six touchdowns. 

The Cuban American quarterback was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Quarterback of the Year and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. He led Indiana to a Big Ten championship victory over Ohio State and a No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. 

Mendoza capped the season by becoming the first Indiana player to win the Heisman Trophy. He also earned AP Player of the Year honors, the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Ten’s top player, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien Award. 

“Fernando Mendoza’s historic season represents a defining moment for our community,” said Ron Rivera, a founding board member of the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame. “He performed at the highest level of college football with composure, leadership and exceptional achievement, qualities that fill the Hispanic community with tremendous pride.” 

Mendoza was selected from six All- America finalists by the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame selection committee. Other finalists included offensive lineman Fernando Carmona of Arkansas, wide receiver KC Concepcion of Texas A&M, quarterback Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt, placekicker Gabriel Plascencia of San Diego State and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech. 

Mendoza and the College Football All-America honorees will be recognized at the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame Celebración de Fútbol in Las Vegas on May 5.