Cuban American Fernando Mendoza, quarterback of Big Ten Champion Indiana University (13-0), awarded college football’s greatest recognition, the 2025 Heisman Trophy.

Born in Miami of Cuban exile grandparents who left Cuba due to the Communist repression. He attended Christopher Columbus H.S., alma mater of another Cuban American, Mario Cristóbal, head coach of the University of Miami’s football team. His younger brother, Alberto Mendoza, is following in his footsteps to be next year’s starting quarterback at Indiana!

Fernando led the league with 33 touchdowns, 226 of 316 passes, a 71.5% completion rate, with 2,980 yards and only six interceptions. He also ran for 240 yards and six touchdowns. The team is now on its way to the National Championship Playoffs as #1 seed.

“I want every kid out there who feels overlooked, underestimated to know I was you,” Mendoza said while accepting the award which included gracias to his grandparents.

On an interview with On3 this year he said “"All my grandparents were born and raised in Cuba, three in Havana, one in Santiago, and so I’m extremely grateful for all the hardship that they’ve been through coming over and the whole part of being an immigrant, starting from the ground up and really laying a foundation".

Photographers: Adam Hunger / Todd Van Emst