Heisman Winner Fernando Mendoza Reflects on Viral Postgame Moment
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is reflecting on the emotional postgame interview that captured the hearts of fans after his Indiana Hoosiers clinched the Big 10 Championship on December 6.
“It was just genuine raw emotion,” Mendoza, 22, stated in a recent interview, acknowledging the overwhelming feelings he experienced during the live broadcast. “Maybe it was a little too much.”
After leading his team to victory over Ohio State, Mendoza's heartfelt reaction resonated widely. When asked about the win, he nearly broke down, exclaiming, “It sounds so beautiful! I want to give all the glory to God. We were never supposed to be in this position but by the great glory of God, the great coaches, the great teammates, and everyone we have around us, we were able to pull this off!”
His excitement didn’t stop there. “Who ever thought the Hoosiers would be here? But now the Hoosiers are flippin’ champs! Let’s go!” he added, showcasing his enthusiasm for the moment.
Mendoza later described his emotional outburst as a sincere reflection of his joy for his team. “I was really, really happy for my team, and at the same time I didn’t want to say anything cliché, you know, like ‘everything is possible,’” he explained. “So I just wanted to keep it down and keep it authentic and just give the world my real self.”
He acknowledged that his candidness might have surprised viewers, noting it was “different than a lot of cookie-cutter interviews.” “I think it caught people off-guard, but you know, I’m excited for people to learn the real me,” he remarked.
Interestingly, Mendoza has distanced himself from social media, revealing that he deleted most apps from his phone. “I deleted all social media. The only social media right now that’s on my phone is LinkedIn and YouTube, to watch videos,” he shared. His younger brother Alberto manages his Instagram account along with “some marketing people.”
“Other than that, I am not on any social media,” he reiterated. “I want to keep everything inside the building… There’s a lot of things where I don’t want to go to the outside noise and get the, ‘Oh, that’s so great,’ and kind of forget about those issues I need to build on.”
Mendoza emphasized the importance of focusing on his coaches’ advice. “We have such great coaches. I’m just trying to keep my focus on listening to their advice and their feedback,” he said.
Hours before winning the Heisman Trophy against notable competitors like Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State's Julian Sayin, Mendoza spoke about his newfound fame. He made history as the first Heisman winner for the Hoosiers.
This week has been monumental for Mendoza; he was also named the Associated Press Player of the Year on December 11 for leading Indiana to its first Big Ten championship since 1967. “I’m shining now but only because there are so many stars around me,” he remarked. “There’s an analogy that the only reason we’re able to see stars in the sky is because the light reflects from all different types of stars.”
As Mendoza prepares for the upcoming Rose Bowl on January 1, 2026, where they will face the winner of Alabama vs. Oklahoma, he remains focused on his journey ahead.
