We’re halfway through the 2025 college football season and Indiana shows no sign of going away.
The visiting No. 7 Hoosiers beat the No. 2 Oregon Ducks 30-20 on Oct. 11 in one of the biggest regular-season wins in program history.
Now that IU is being taken seriously, quarterback Fernando Mendoza is getting serious Heisman Trophy attention. Mendoza completed 20-of-31 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown against the Ducks. He also threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown.
Mendoza stands third in the current betting odds behind Miami’s Carson Beck and Alabama’s Ty Simpson. Behind Mendoza is the pitch-and-catch combination for No. 1 Ohio State: receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin.
Oregon’s Dante Moore, a co-favorite coming into the weekend, has dropped out of the top five after IU held him to 21-of-34 accuracy for 186 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Hoosiers also sacked him six times.
Who is the Heisman Trophy favorite? Heisman Trophy odds today, Oct. 12
DraftKings: Carson Beck +360, Ty Simpson +370, Fernando Mendoza +550, Jeremiah Smith +1300, Julian Sayin +1400
Bleacher Report: Beck +360, Simpson +400, Mendoza +600, Smith +1200, Sayin +1400
Fox Sports: Beck +360, Simpson +380, Mendoza +600, Smith +1200, Sayin +1400
Carson Beck stats
Beck leads the top-5 Miami Hurricanes (5-0) with 73.4% accuracy for 1,213 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions in five games.
Ty Simpson stats
Simpson leads the top-10 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1) with 70.9% accuracy for 1,678 touchdowns and one interception.
Fernando Mendoza stats
Mendoza leads IU (6-0) with 71.2% accuracy for 1,423 yards, 17 touchdowns and two interceptions.
Jeremiah Smith stats
The Ohio State (6-0) sophomore has 40 catches for 505 yards (12.6 per) and seven touchdowns.
Julian Sayin stats
OSU’s QB connects on 78.4% of his passes for 1,479 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana football’s Fernando Mendoza in the Heisman Trophy odds halfway through the 2025 college football season
Reporting by Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
