Fernando Mendoza wins the Heisman Trophy, becoming the 1st Indiana player to win the award

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NEW YORK — Fernando Mendoza, the mercurial quarterback of No. 1 Indiana, won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, becoming the first Hoosier to win college football’s most prestigious award since its inception in 1935.

Mendoza claimed 2,362 first-place votes. He beat Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (1,435 votes), Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (719) and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (432).

Mendoza guided the Hoosiers to their first No. 1 ranking and the top seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, throwing for 2,980 yards and a national-best 33 touchdowns while also running for six scores. Indiana, the last unbeaten team in major college football, will play a CFP quarterfinal game in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

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