One player considered a sneaky No. 1 pick at one point was LaNorris Sellers, but South Carolina did not build on its nine-win campaign from 2024. Sellers is set to go back to school, so he's no longer in the running to be the top pick.

The Hoosiers’ win capped a 13-0 season, and catapulted Mendoza to winning the award over Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. And after earning the award, Mendoza did an interview with the assembled media in Bloomington.

Speaking before reporters on Monday, Mendoza reflected on those remarks and shared that he actually took the inspiration for the monologue's main message from NFL receiver DeVonta Smith, who said similarly in his Heisman speech in 2020.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia slammed Heisman Trophy voters on Instagram after finishing second to Indiana's Fernando Mendoza in the voting process.

Multiple general managers told Jay Glazer that Fernando Mendoza might not only be the top QB picked in the 2026 NFL Draft, but he might also be the No. 1 pick.

Indiana, which is in the market for a Fernando Mendoza replacement in 2026, is already reportedly on the right track.

Fresh on the heels of his Heisman Trophy landslide, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza got the better of Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia once again.