The prestigious Heisman Trophy ceremony for 2025 was held at the elegant Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room in New York City, celebrating the pinnacle of collegiate football achievement. This year, the coveted award found its home with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, marking a historic moment for the Hoosiers program. Mendoza is the first player in Indiana’s football history to ever receive the Heisman Trophy, an accomplishment that will undoubtedly resonate for years to come.
Standing at an imposing 6-foot-5 and weighing 225 pounds, Mendoza’s collegiate career began at California. He redshirted in 2022, utilizing the time to develop before making his mark. Over his final two seasons with the Golden Bears, he demonstrated significant talent, accumulating an impressive 4,712 passing yards, throwing for 30 touchdowns, and recording 16 interceptions.
His transfer to Indiana proved to be a transformative move. In the 2025 season, Mendoza was nothing short of spectacular. Across 13 games, he showcased his elite quarterbacking skills by throwing for 2,980 yards and a remarkable 33 touchdowns, while significantly reducing his interception count to just six. His leadership was instrumental in guiding the Hoosiers to an undefeated regular season, culminating in a hard-fought 13-10 victory over the reigning national champions, Ohio State, in the Big Ten championship game. This remarkable season solidified his status as a top contender for college football’s most prestigious individual award.
Mendoza’s victory makes him the 91st recipient of the Heisman Trophy, a lineage of legendary athletes that spans decades. This award recognizes not only individual brilliance but also the impact a player has on their team and the sport.
A Legacy of Excellence: All-Time Heisman Trophy Winners
The Heisman Trophy has been awarded annually since 1935, recognizing the most outstanding player in college football. The list of recipients reads like a who’s who of football legends, showcasing the evolution of the game and the diverse talents that have graced the collegiate gridiron. Here is a comprehensive look at every Heisman Trophy winner:
- 2025: Fernando Mendoza – Quarterback, Indiana
- 2024: Travis Hunter – Wide Receiver and Cornerback, Colorado
- 2023: Jayden Daniels – Quarterback, LSU
- 2022: Caleb Williams – Quarterback, USC
- 2021: Bryce Young – Quarterback, Alabama
- 2020: DeVonta Smith – Wide Receiver, Alabama
- 2019: Joe Burrow – Quarterback, LSU
- 2018: Kyler Murray – Quarterback, Oklahoma
- 2017: Baker Mayfield – Quarterback, Oklahoma
- 2016: Lamar Jackson – Quarterback, Louisville
- 2015: Derrick Henry – Running Back, Alabama
- 2014: Marcus Mariota – Quarterback, Oregon
- 2013: Jameis Winston – Quarterback, Florida State
- 2012: Johnny Manziel – Quarterback, Texas A&M
- 2011: Robert Griffin III – Quarterback, Baylor
- 2010: Cam Newton – Quarterback, Auburn
- 2009: Mark Ingram II – Running Back, Alabama
- 2008: Sam Bradford – Quarterback, Oklahoma
- 2007: Tim Tebow – Quarterback, Florida
- 2006: Troy Smith – Quarterback, Ohio State
- 2005: Reggie Bush – Running Back, USC
- 2004: Matt Leinart – Quarterback, USC
- 2003: Jason White – Quarterback, Oklahoma
- 2002: Carson Palmer – Quarterback, USC
- 2001: Eric Crouch – Quarterback, Nebraska
- 2000: Chris Weinke – Quarterback, Florida State
- 1999: Ron Dayne – Running Back, Wisconsin
- 1998: Ricky Williams – Running Back, Texas
- 1997: Charles Woodson – Defensive Back, Michigan
- 1996: Danny Wuerffel – Quarterback, Florida
- 1995: Eddie George – Running Back, Ohio State
- 1994: Rashaan Salaam – Running Back, Colorado
- 1993: Charlie Ward – Quarterback, Florida State
- 1992: Gino Torretta – Quarterback, Miami
- 1991: Desmond Howard – Wide Receiver and Punt Returner, Michigan
- 1990: Ty Detmer – Quarterback, BYU
- 1989: Andre Ware – Quarterback, Houston
- 1988: Barry Sanders – Running Back, Oklahoma State
- 1987: Tim Brown – Wide Receiver, Notre Dame
- 1986: Vinny Testaverde – Quarterback, Miami
- 1985: Bo Jackson – Running Back, Auburn
- 1984: Doug Flutie – Quarterback, Boston College
- 1983: Mike Rozier – Running Back, Nebraska
- 1982: Herschel Walker – Running Back, Georgia
- 1981: Marcus Allen – Running Back, USC
- 1980: George Rogers – Running Back, South Carolina
- 1979: Charles White – Running Back, USC
- 1978: Billy Sims – Running Back, Oklahoma
- 1977: Earl Campbell – Running Back, Texas
- 1976: Tony Dorsett – Running Back, Pittsburgh
- 1975: Archie Griffin – Running Back, Ohio State
- 1974: Archie Griffin – Running Back, Ohio State
- 1973: John Cappelletti – Running Back, Penn State
- 1972: Johnny Rodgers – Wide Receiver, Nebraska
- 1971: Pat Sullivan – Quarterback, Auburn
- 1970: Jim Plunkett – Quarterback, Stanford
- 1969: Steve Owens – Fullback, Oklahoma
- 1968: O.J. Simpson – Halfback, USC
- 1967: Gary Beban – Quarterback, UCLA
- 1966: Steve Spurrier – Quarterback, Florida
- 1965: Mike Garrett – Halfback, USC
- 1964: John Huarte – Quarterback, Notre Dame
- 1963: Roger Staubach – Quarterback, Navy
- 1962: Terry Baker – Quarterback, Oregon State
- 1961: Ernie Davis – Halfback, Linebacker and Fullback, Syracuse
- 1960: Joe Bellino – Halfback, Navy
- 1959: Billy Cannon – Halfback, LSU
- 1958: Pete Dawkins – Halfback, Army
- 1957: John David Crow – Halfback, Texas A&M
- 1956: Paul Hornung – Quarterback, Notre Dame
- 1955: Howard Cassady – Halfback, Ohio State
- 1954: Alan Ameche – Fullback, Wisconsin
- 1953: Johnny Lattner – Halfback, Notre Dame
- 1952: Billy Vessels – Halfback, Oklahoma
- 1951: Dick Kazmaier – Halfback, Princeton
- 1950: Vic Janowicz – Halfback and Punter, Ohio State
- 1949: Leon Hart – End, Notre Dame
- 1948: Doak Walker – Halfback, SMU
- 1947: Johnny Lujack – Quarterback, Notre Dame
- 1946: Glenn Davis – Halfback, Army
- 1945: Doc Blanchard – Fullback, Army
- 1944: Les Horvath – Halfback and Quarterback, Ohio State
- 1943: Angelo Bertelli – Quarterback, Notre Dame
- 1942: Frank Sinkwich – Halfback, Georgia
- 1941: Bruce Smith – Halfback, Minnesota
- 1940: Tom Harmon – Halfback, Michigan
- 1939: Nile Kinnick – Halfback and Quarterback, Iowa
- 1938: Davey O’Brien – Quarterback, TCU
- 1937: Clint Frank – Halfback, Yale
- 1936: Larry Kelley – End, Yale
- 1935: Jay Berwanger – Halfback, Chicago