Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza made more history Saturday night, becoming the first Hoosier to win the Heisman Trophy at a ceremony in New York.
But though his career in Bloomington is not over, with the College Football Playoff in front of the Hoosiers, it's never too early to wonder where he will go in the 2026 NFL Draft. NFL betting sites will have evolving odds on this as April's selection process nears.
Here is a recent history of where Heisman Trophy winners have been drafted in the past quarter of a century.
Heisman Trophy Winners in NFL Draft Since 2000
Where Drafted | Number | Percent (out of 25) |
No. 1 overall | 9 | 36% |
Elsewhere in Top 10 | 7 | 28% |
Elsewhere in First Round | 4 | 16% |
After First Round | 4 | 16% |
Undrafted | 1 | 4% |
His path in the CFP will be followed closely by fans and college football betting customers. Mendoza and the Hoosiers are heading to the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, where they await the winner of the first-round CFP game between Oklahoma and Alabama in the quarterfinals.
All of this assumes that Mendoza, who has a year of eligibility remaining, will declare for the draft. But he's considered a strong pro prospect and is very high on mock draft boards – No. 1 overall in several places – so it would be considered unusual if he chose to stay in college.
Mendoza spent two seasons at California, accumulating 4,712 yards and 30 touchdowns passing over 20 games, before transferring to Indiana this season. What the junior has done in one season in the Midwest has been remarkable, leading the Hoosiers to the Big Ten championship. Despite their 11-2 record and CFP appearance last year, they opened this season at +3500 odds with BetMGM Sportsbook to win the conference.
This season, Mendoza leads the nation in touchdown passes (33) and yards per attempt (9.4) while throwing for 2,980 yards and just six interceptions in 13 games. IU won its first outright Big Ten championship since 1945 by defeating Ohio State 13-10 on Dec. 6 in Indianapolis; the Hoosiers hadn't even earned a share of a league title since 1967.
The Hoosiers are the No. 1 seed in the Playoff and at FanDuel Sportsbook they have +320 odds to win the national championship, second on the board behind Ohio State (+190).
How Heisman Winners Fare In Draft
Out of the 24 Heisman Trophy winners chosen in the NFL Draft since 2000, all but five were selected in the first round. Nine were chosen No. 1 overall – all quarterbacks – and five went No. 2 in the first round. Jayden Daniels (2023 Heisman winner at LSU) and Marcus Mariota (2014, Oregon) were selected behind two fellow Downtown Athletic Club honorees (USC's Caleb Williams in the 2024 NFL Draft and Florida State's Jameis Winston in 2015).
At DraftKings Sportsbook, Mendoza has -165 odds to be the overall No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, making him the favorite, ahead of Oregon QB Dante Moore (+320) and Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (+650).
Here is a full list of Heisman Trophy winners in the past 25 years, the year they won, the year they were drafted and the position where they were selected. Oklahoma QB Jason White is the only Heisman winner since 2000 to go undrafted.
- 2024: Travis Hunter, Colorado, selected second overall (2025 draft)
- 2023: Jayden Daniels, LSU, second (2024 draft)
- 2022: Caleb Williams, USC, first (2024 draft)
- 2021: Bryce Young, Alabama, first (2023 draft)
- 2020: DeVonta Smith, Alabama, 10th (2021 draft)
- 2019: Joe Burrow, LSU, first (2020 draft)
- 2018: Kyler Murray, Oklahoma, first (2019 draft)
- 2017: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, first (2018 draft)
- 2016: Lamar Jackson, Louisville, 32nd (2018 draft)
- 2015: Derrick Henry, Alabama, 45th (2016 draft)
- 2014: Marcus Mariota, Oregon, second (2015 draft)
- 2013: Jameis Winston, Florida State, first (2015 draft)
- 2012: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, 22nd (2014 draft)
- 2011: Robert Griffin III, Baylor, second (2012 draft)
- 2010: Cam Newton, Auburn, first (2011 draft)
- 2009: Mark Ingram, Alabama, 28th (2011 draft)
- 2008: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, first (2010 draft)
- 2007: Tim Tebow, Florida, 25th (2010 draft)
- 2006: Troy Smith, Ohio State, 174th (2007 draft)
- 2005: Reggie Bush, USC, second (2006 draft)
- 2004: Matt Leinart, USC, 10th (2006 draft)
- 2003: Jason White, Oklahoma, undrafted (eligible in 2005)
- 2002: Carson Palmer, USC, first (2003 draft)
- 2001: Eric Crouch, Nebraska, 95th (2002 draft)
- 2000: Chris Weinke, Florida State, 106th (2001 draft)
We're still four months from the draft and a lot will change – a team with the No. 1 overall pick might not need a QB, trades could take place, injuries could get in the way – but whatever the case, stay with RotoWire for more updates and the best sportsbook promo codes too.
