Indiana’s quarterback and 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza has consistently given the glory to God throughout this stellar season in which the Hoosiers remain undefeated, and their Rose Bowl win was no exception.
The #1 seed Hoosiers overcame the #9 seed Alabama in a stunning 38-3 defeat, the largest recorded loss for the Crimson Tide since 1998 and their worst postseason loss ever.
“The only reason I won the Heisman is because I am one out of 22 players on the Indiana football team…It’s a team award,” Mendoza said in a post-game interview. “Our team performs fantastically throughout the entire season and I was blessed and honored by God to be able to receive that award. And now all I gotta do is do my part in this great unit in order to try to get a win every single week. I’m so honored and blessed to be part of this team, this sports staff, and this coaching staff, and I can’t thank God enough for this.
The first thing football superstar Fernando Mendoza did after winning the Rose Bowl was praise God
“First of all, my team and I want to give all the glory to God.”
This is one of the greatest interviews you will ever see. pic.twitter.com/tXOqqZMYb6
— Anna Lulis (@annamlulis) January 2, 2026
Mendoza, a Catholic, is active at the St. Paul Catholic Center on Indiana’s campus. Before being recognized as the star quarterback, he was noticed by Father Patrick Hyde as “just a really tall one (worshiper) who was at mass every weekend.”
“It’s been really neat to hear from the other students how seeing him – and he’s just here at mass like anyone else – just praying, trying to grow in holiness, trying to do good in the world,” Hyde told WISH-8. “And to see that witness for the other students, to be like, ‘Wow. He’s got all of these things that are on him and he’s here every Sunday.’”
Mendoza brought the Heisman trophy to St. Paul’s on Christmas Eve. “This Church and you all are a major reason why this happened,” Mendoza said, according to Hoosier Catholics.
The Hoosiers will now face the Oregon Ducks in the Peach Bowl, the semifinal game for the college football playoffs, this Friday, January 9 at 7:30 PM ET.
