Sawt Falasteen - Quarterback Mendoza wins Heisman as US top college football player

Mendoza, who was named the 2025 Big Ten conference Offensive Player and Quarterback of the Year, led Indiana to a 2025 Big Ten Championship upset victory over Ohio State and the top seed in the College Football Playoff.

He is in his first year at Indiana after transferring from California and led the Hoosiers to a 13-0 record and the program's first-ever number one ranking.

Indiana will play a College Football Playoff quarter-final in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.

Mendoza, who completed 226-of-316 passes for 2,980 yards and a national-best 33 TD passes while rushing for 240 yards and another six scores, captured collegiate football's most prestigious award, handed out at a ceremony at Lincoln Center,

He beat three other finalists: Vanderbilt University quarterback Diego Pavia, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

The brash Pavia led Vanderbilt to it's first 10-win season. Sayin, a sophomore, led the Buckeyes to a 12-1 record. The were ranked number one for much of the season but after falling in the conference championship game to Mendoza's Indiana are seeded second in the College Football Playoff.

Love ranked fourth nationally in rushing yards with 1,372 and produced 18 rushing touchdowns. He added 27 pass receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns.

It's the 13th time since 2010 that the Heisman went to a quarterback.

In balloting of media members and former Heisman winners, Mendoza received 643 first-place votes and 2,362 points and beat Pavia -- who received 189 first-place votes -- by 927 points.

K.AbuTaha--SF-PST