Reaction to Indiana's Fernando Mendoza winning the Heisman, his speech
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Indiana football quarterback Fernando Mendoza is Indiana football's first Heisman Trophy on Saturday night. The two-star recruit playing for what was once the losingest program in Division I then gave a speech honoring his mother, Elsa Mendoza, that had people in tears.
Mendoza beat out fellow finalists, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love for the award.
“All those (struggles) were blessings,” Mendoza said this weekend. “They lit a fire underneath myself in order to make myself work harder and get to the point where I am today.”
Here's social media reaction to Mendoza's win and speech:
The moment Fernando Mendoza became a Heisman winner 🥹🏆 pic.twitter.com/nEobBz3T8U
— ESPN (@espn) December 14, 2025
Congratulations to the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, @IndianaFootball quarterback Fernando Mendoza!#Heisman | #MoreThanATrophypic.twitter.com/DMqXA16ode
— The Heisman Trophy (@HeismanTrophy) December 14, 2025
Final vote total, it wasn't close:
Fernando Mendoa (643 first place votes), 2,362 points
Diego Pavia in second (189 first-place votes), 1,435 pointshttps://t.co/4Ee5etCgT2— Michael Niziolek (@michaelniziolek) December 14, 2025
CONGRATS FERNANDO
THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS FOR THE STATE OF INDIANA pic.twitter.com/qYotnnDiGx
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 14, 2025
Somebody tell @finebaum and @RealSkipBaylesshttps://t.co/1mwtvSwWrV
— rickbozich (@rickbozich) December 14, 2025
"Together you and I are rewriting what people think is possible."
Fernando Mendoza to his mom after winning the Heisman ❤️ pic.twitter.com/E2CO1eV41q
— espnW (@espnW) December 14, 2025
There are HeisMendoza chants inside Rupp Arena right now, as Fernando Mendoza becomes the first Indiana player ever to win the Heisman Trophy. #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 14, 2025
Fernando Mendoza is both laughing and crying more than 90% of Heisman winners in his speech. Man wears his heart on his sleeve, is nice to see.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 14, 2025
The way Fernando Mendoza speaks about his mom is truly incredible to listen to
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) December 14, 2025
You don’t have a pulse if you’re not crying hearing Fernando Mendoza talk about his mom 🥹🥹🥹🥹
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) December 14, 2025
Excellent Heisman speech by Fernando Mendoza.
I'm not crying, you're crying. pic.twitter.com/6DgPljPt1G— NachoGee (@nash_gomez) December 14, 2025
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Reaction to Indiana's Fernando Mendoza winning the Heisman, his speech
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