Indiana upsets No. 3 Oregon, reshaping Heisman race as Mendoza rises

The Heisman Trophy race shifted dramatically over the weekend as Indiana upset No. 3 Oregon and a pair of quarterbacks outside the earlier frontrunners vaulted up the leaderboard while the pregame favorite slipped. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza led the Hoosiers to a 30-20 victory in Eugene on Saturday, a result that elevated his profile and pushed Oregon’s Dante Moore down the list of contenders. Miami’s Carson Beck, who had a bye, remained a focal point of the conversation as voters and oddsmakers reassessed the field.

Mendoza completed 20 of 31 passes for 215 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the upset, a performance that was valued more for the win than gaudy individual numbers. The 6-foot-5 transfer’s leadership and the Hoosiers’ execution against a top-ranked opponent prompted renewed attention to his candidacy. Oregon’s Moore, who entered the weekend with one of the highest completion percentages in the country and a stat line that included more than 1,200 yards and double-digit touchdowns, had a difficult outing and saw his status as a frontrunner diminish after the loss.

The weekend also reinforced Ty Simpson of Alabama as a prominent contender....