Has there ever been a player to win the Heisman, National Championship and get drafted first overall in same year?

The booze might still be flowing and the celebrations are still in full swing from Bloomington after the Indiana Hoosiers first National Championship in program history. While it’s not the time to think about what’s next, their Heisman winning quarterback could be on he verge of joining an elite list of quarterbacks that have completed the trifecta.

Storybook season for Mendoza

Fernando Mendoza’s name will go down in the history books of Indiana University for the rest of time. What he did in his first year in Bloomington wasn’t just historic, it was dramatic. It was Hollywood worthy, and now the Miami native who won the National title could be on the verge of doing something that has only been done two times before.

After two years with the Cal Bears, Kurt Cignetti pitched Mendoza to join the losingest program in college football history. Cignetti was already building something at Indiana after going 11-2 in his first year with the Hoosiers. Mendoza came in, took the starting job and never looked back. He passed for 3,535 yards, 41 TDs and just 6 INTs and was named the Heisman Trophy winner before winning the National Championship on Monday night in Miami.

Now Mendoza will most likely look to taking he next step and enter his name in the NFL Draft. His stock will never be higher after winning the Heisman and leading his team to their first title in history. The only thing left on the trifecta is to be taken number one overall in the NFL Draft. He would be just the third player ever to do so, and Mendoza now has a real shot at joining the elite list.

Trifecta Trail Blazers

Cam Newton became the first player ever to win the Heisman, lift the National Championship trophy and be taken No. 1 overall. Newton was a sensation in his one year at the University of Auburn after transferring from Florida. He passed for 2,854 yards, 30 TDs and 7 INTs, while running for another 1,473 yards and 20 TDs. He was named the Heisman winner, beat Oregon in the title game and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers who had the first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

The only other player to rattle off all three feats was Joe Burrow. Burrow led maybe the greatest college football team ever to the National Title game while putting up jaw dropping numbers at LSU. In his final year as a Tiger, he put up 5,671 yards passing, 60 TDs and just 6 INTs to be named the Heisman Trophy winner before the Tigers met Clemson in the National Championship. Burrow threw for five TDs, ran another one in and LSU won 42-25 to be crowned national champs before the Cincinnati Bengals took him with he top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Those two are considered college football royalty and both went to he next level and succeeded. Newton was named Offensive Rookie of th Year before winning the NFL’s MVP in 2015. He led the Panthers to the Super Bowl in the 2015 but lost to the Denver Broncos. Burrow was the passing leader in 2024, a two time time Pro Bowler, and led his Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021, but lost to the LA Rams. Now Mendoza is the next in line for the as everyone expects the Las Vegas Raiders to take the Heisman winning national champion with the top pick in this draft.

Related stories

Live

Saleh’s up hill battle in Tennessee

NFL

Former Broncos star "very confident in Jarret Stidham”

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.