Heisman Winner Fernando Mendoza Clarifies Afterparty Experience

Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza shared insights about his Heisman Trophy afterparty, emphasizing a night filled with joy rather than excess.

After making history as the first Hoosier to win the prestigious award on December 13, Mendoza faced a lighthearted question about the challenges of recovering from both the Big Ten championship and a night out in Times Square with his offensive line.

“That’s a great question,” he responded with a chuckle, reflecting on the whirlwind of events. “They’re both recoveries, for sure.”

On December 15, he reassured reporters, “We know how to handle ourselves with class. We never get, like, obliterated. We always have a good time. We can always control ourselves.” His words highlighted the balance between celebration and responsibility.

Mendoza elaborated on the bond he shares with his teammates, stating, “We all just have a ton of fun with each other. It’s more about feeding off each other and having a good time.”

However, he admitted that catching up on sleep post-celebration was “a little tough.” The quarterback described the emotional rollercoaster of the week: “It was bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. I was so overwhelmed by emotion the entire week.”

Ten to fifteen teammates made the trip to New York at their own expense to support him during the ceremony, where he triumphed over competitors including Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia and Ohio State's Julian Sayin.

After taking celebratory photos with the Heisman statue in Times Square, Mendoza partied at Elsie Rooftop with over 100 friends and family members, according to reports.

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti praised Mendoza’s influence on team unity, stating, “I think everything that Fernando represents, you see in the closeness of this team.”

When it came to his acceptance speech, Mendoza approached it with diligence. “I think it was my duty as a finalist to practice and rehearse a speech,” he noted. Despite feeling nervous on stage, he received positive feedback afterward.

As Indiana prepares for the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 seed, Mendoza expressed pride in his team’s hard work this season. “We’re 13-0 and I believe that we’ve earned these couple of bye weeks here,” he stated.

The Hoosiers will face the winner of the December 19 matchup between No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2026.