The Indiana Hoosiers have put together the perfect season so far, but the job isn't done yet. Curt Cignetti is set to lead his squad into battle against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship before both teams start their journey to a national title in the College Football Playoff.
The focus is all on the Big Ten Championship, and then it will shift to the College Football Playoff, but Fernando Mendoza is also vying for the top award in college football: The Heisman Trophy. The Cal transfer certainly has stepped up his game in his first season with the Hoosiers, so much so that he is leading the Heisman Trophy race.
There seems to be another player other than Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin that is making a push for the trophy, and Vegas oddsmakers are even giving him the same odds to win the award as Mendoza.
Right now, Mendoza is tied with Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia with the highest odds to win the Heisman Trophy.
Diego Pavia has now moved into a TIE for the best odds with Fernando Mendoza for Heisman on @FDSportsbook. Column coming later today in which I will argue why Pavia is the right decision. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/j3p6vBE2Pt
— Graham Baakko (@GrahamBaakko) December 2, 2025
This seems like a slap in the face of Mendoza, who has led his team to an undefeated regular season, while Pavia has two losses with the Commodores. Mendoza is also leading his team to the college Football Playoff, while Vanderbilt is too far out of the field to make it in.
If anything, this is a slap in the face of Mendoza.
Fernando Mendoza can win the Heisman against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship
If Mendoza wants to secure the Heisman Trophy, he is going to have to have the game of his life against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship. A big win over the No. 1 team in the country to also win a conference title would be everything Mendoza needs for the award.
In the regular season, Mendoza has 2,758 passing yards, a 72% completion rate, 32 touchdown passes, and only five interceptions. He has also used his legs a lot this season with 243 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
Mendoza leads the country in touchdown passes, showing that without him, Indiana probably wouldn't be in the position that it is right now. Mendoza has the ability to do something big in the Big Ten Championship and bring a Heisman Trophy back to Bloomington.