Fernando Mendoza Leads Indiana To First National Title

On a balmy Miami night at Hard Rock Stadium, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza capped off a storybook season by leading the Hoosiers to their first-ever College Football Playoff national championship, defeating Miami 27-21. The victory sealed a perfect 16-0 record for Indiana and cemented Mendoza’s place in college football lore as he added a national title to his Heisman Trophy win and an already remarkable personal journey.

But the story of Mendoza and this Indiana team is about far more than numbers on a stat sheet. It’s about faith, resilience, and the kind of leadership that transcends the gridiron. On Christmas Eve, just weeks before the title game, Mendoza—who had recently claimed the Heisman—texted Father Patrick Hyde of Saint Paul Church on the Indiana University campus: “Are you available? I’d like to bring over the Heisman.” For Hyde and fellow Dominican priest Father Ben Keller, it was a moment that spoke volumes about Mendoza’s character. “When someone offers to bring the Heisman Trophy by,” Hyde remembers, “you clear the schedule.”

Mendoza’s relationship with Hyde and Keller began when he enrolled at Indiana last winter. Quickly, he became a regular at Sunday Mass and Friday prayer sessions before home games, often joined by teammate Charlie Becker. The connection grew so strong that the priests accompanied the team through the postseason, from the Big Ten championship to the Rose Bowl, the Peach Bowl, and finally to Miami for the national championship. Their white Dominican habits made them hard to miss in the stands, but it was their bond with Mendoza that truly stood out.

“The only reason I’ve gotten to this point is because there’s so many different people helping me in my journey, and [the Saint Paul priests] have been one,” Mendoza said. “They’ve done so much to help me, whether it’s confession or just to be able to talk or just Mass every Sunday. So I really give a lot that I have accomplished this season to the Lord, and we give thanks to God.”

On the field, Mendoza’s performance in the championship game was a testament to his poise under pressure. He completed 16 of 27 passes for 186 yards and ran the ball six times, including a pivotal 12-yard touchdown that will be replayed for years to come. Indiana’s offense sputtered in the third quarter, with Mendoza recording zero passing yards and taking three sacks as Miami’s defense tightened its grip. The Hurricanes, trailing all game, finally cut the deficit to three points early in the fourth quarter after Mark Fletcher Jr. punched in a 3-yard rushing score.

With the momentum shifting, Mendoza orchestrated a drive that showcased his grit and football IQ. The Hoosiers marched 75 yards in 12 plays, facing two critical fourth downs along the way. On 4th-and-5, Mendoza found Becker for a miraculous 19-yard gain. Less than a minute later, with the season hanging in the balance, Mendoza took the snap on 4th-and-4 and darted toward the end zone. Jakobe Thomas and Wesley Bissainthe hit him hard, nearly knocking him off balance. With Ahmad Moten Sr. in pursuit and Mohamed Toure and Xavier Lucas closing in, Mendoza managed to keep his feet, arching his 6-foot-5 frame over the goal line for the touchdown.

“I’ll die for my team,” Mendoza declared after the game. “Whatever they need me to do, they need me to take a shot to the front or back, I’m going to die for my team out there because I know they’ll do the same thing for me. That’s what makes this national championship so special.” According to head coach Curt Cignetti, the play was installed specifically for the championship. “We put it in for this game,” Cignetti explained. “It was a quarterback draw, but it was blocked differently. And we rolled the dice and said they’re going to be in (the same defense) again. We blocked it well, he broke a tackle or two and got into the end zone.”

Miami refused to back down, answering with a touchdown of their own on the next drive. But Mendoza was unflappable. On a crucial third down, he found Becker again for another 19-yard gain, allowing Indiana to chew up the clock and set up a 35-yard field goal, pushing the lead to 27-21. When Miami got the ball back, Indiana’s Jamari Sharpe intercepted Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck, sealing the victory and sending Hoosier fans into ecstasy.

The magnitude of the moment wasn’t lost on anyone inside Hard Rock Stadium, including a trio of NFL royalty: Raiders owner Mark Davis, general manager John Spytek, and minority owner Tom Brady, all in attendance. With the Raiders holding the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, speculation is swirling that Mendoza could become the sixth quarterback in history to win the Heisman, a national title, and be selected first overall. If that happens, Mendoza would join an elite fraternity and further burnish his already impressive legacy.

Beyond the field, Mendoza’s impact has been felt in ways that statistics can’t capture. A Cal graduate with a business degree earned in just three years, Mendoza’s humility and intelligence have endeared him to teammates, coaches, and fans alike. His Heisman acceptance speech was a heartfelt tribute to his Cuban heritage and his mother, Elsa, who battles multiple sclerosis. Even Miami fans found themselves rooting for him. Lourdes Le Batard, mother of broadcaster Dan Le Batard, admitted on air, “I want Miami to win. But I want Fernando to do well. He’s a polite person. He has feelings. He’s a great person for children to look up to—we haven’t had many of those lately. He’s humble. He’s the biggest thing in his sport and he never says, ‘I’m so great.’”

As the confetti settled and Indiana celebrated its first national championship, Mendoza’s journey from parish pews to college football’s pinnacle offered a powerful reminder of what sports can mean. For Father Hyde and Father Keller, for his teammates and for Hoosier Nation, Fernando Mendoza is more than a champion—he’s a role model whose faith, drive, and humility have inspired a campus, a state, and perhaps soon, the entire football world.

With NFL scouts watching closely and a new chapter on the horizon, Mendoza’s story is far from over. For now, though, Indiana basks in the glow of a season—and a quarterback—that will be remembered for generations to come.