By Mallory Mattingly
Indiana football quarterback Fernando Mendoza took home the 2025 Heisman Trophy on Saturday night.
When preparing for his speech, Mendoza watched countless Heisman speeches from the past to get an idea of what he wanted to say. However, one thing stood out above the rest: his faith in God.
“Thank you to everybody. First, I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to chase a dream that once felt the world away. Standing here tonight, holding this bad boy, representing Indiana University, still doesn’t feel real,” Mendoza began. “If you told me, as a kid in Miami, that I’d be here on stage, holding this prestigious trophy, I probably would have laughed, cried, like I’m doing now, or both. Because this moment, it’s an honor, it’s bigger than me. It’s a product of a family, team, community, and a whole lot of people who believed in me long before anybody knew my name.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyTi2f38KQw
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Mendoza then spoke to his teammates, coaches, and staff from Indiana.
“Congrats to all my teammates, my brothers. This is our trophy. I love you guys more than you know. To my linemen who protected me, every receiver and tight end that bailed me out and made me look good, to every running back who fought for more yards, and to our defense that gave us that heart, swagger and more second chances than we definitely deserved. This trophy might have my name on it, but it belongs to all of you,” he shared.
“It belongs the first time in Bloomington. Playing in front of Hoosier Nation is one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I’ll carry that forever,” he continued. “And my lifelong teammate, Alberto, my brother, my closest confidant, the one I trust more than anybody to get through a tough day, tough play, tough game — I love you, bro. I love you. And thank you for always giving it to me straight, no matter the circumstance.
“Thank you to Coach Dunn and to Christopher Columbus High School for giving me a home, a dream to follow, and more importantly, a brotherhood,” the quarterback added. “Adelante. To my Cal family, thank you for being the first to believe in my future. Thank you for the opportunity, thank you for educating me, giving me the foundation that enabled me to grow into the person I am today.”
Mendoza also spoke directly to his mother to thank her for her sacrifice throughout his childhood.
“Mommy, this is your trophy as much as it is mine. You’ve always been my biggest fan. You’re my light, you’re my why, you’re my biggest supporter. Your sacrifices, courage, love, those have been my first playbook, and the playbook that I’m going to carry through my side through my entire life,” Mendoza said. “You taught me that toughness doesn’t need to be loud. It can be quiet and strong. It’s choosing hope. It’s believing in yourself when the world doesn’t give you much reason to. Together, you and I are rewriting what people think is possible. I love you.”
Mendoza became the first-ever football player from Indiana University to bring home the Heisman Trophy. Indiana also made history when it became the No. 1 seed in the college football playoffs for the first-time ever.
Indiana football will play the winner of the Alabama and Oklahoma game in the Rose Bowl on January first. Mendoza looks to continue this historic season and lead the Hoosiers to a National Championship.
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