‘It’s a dream come true’: Fernando Mendoza caps magical season as national champ
Fernando Mendoza’s parents loved watching every single pass their son threw during his Heisman Trophy-winning season.
But they often cringed whenever Mendoza tucked the ball away and ran, putting his body at risk.
On Monday night, that’s what it took for Mendoza to cap his memorable season at Indiana with a national championship.
“Sometimes I’m like, ‘You’re a quarterback, not a running back, what are you doing?” Mendoza’s mother, Elsa, said while smiling on Monday night after the game. “He’ll do whatever it takes to get his team a touchdown and he did. But I might have to have some words with him when I see him.”
With his parents watching from the stands at Hard Rock Stadium, Mendoza took off on a quarterback keeper on a key 4th and 5 from the Miami Hurricanes’ 12-yard line.
Mendoza, who had been hit multiple times and even bloodied earlier in the game, tucked the ball and sprinted for the end zone. He made two defenders miss, then spun around a hit from Hurricanes linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, stayed on his feet and dove across the goal line as he took another hit to score what would be the decisive score in the Hoosiers’ 27-21 victory over Miami.
“A big confidence we’ve had has been in ourselves. We always figure it out. When we called that play, we said we’re going to bet on ourselves again,” Mendoza said. “It wasn’t a perfect draw, but I trust my linemen and everybody in that entire team had a gritty performance and we all put our bodies on the line so it’s the least I could do for my brothers.”
The run was spectacular even on a night when Mendoza, at times, wasn’t as spectacular as he had been for most of the 2025 season on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy.
Mendoza completed 16 of 27 passes for 186 yards, but did not throw a touchdown pass. He also did not throw an interception.
But Mendoza was gritty.
And Mendoza was clutch.
As Miami intensified its pass rush, sacking Mendoza three times in the second half, he converted one third down and one fourth down with pinpoint back shoulder throws to receiver Charlie Becker to keep Indiana drives going.
“I think that’s from his mom, legit,” Mendoza’s father, Fernando Sr., said during the post-game ceremony on the field. “His mom has always been clutch. She’s always coming up big for us and she’s the rock of this family.”
Mendoza’s mother, Elsa, let out a scream of joy when Fernando crossed the goal line for that key fourth quarter touchdown. Despite dealing with multiple sclerosis, she attended every one of her son’s playoff games and home games at Indiana this season to watch their eldest of three sons as well as their middle son, Alberto, who is the Hoosiers’ backup quarterback.
After the game, as Indiana fans celebrated their triumph, they also serenaded Fernando Mendoza Jr. by signing to a recorded play of ABBA’s classic, “Fernando.”
Mendoza Jr. became a superstar before their eyes this season thanks to his stellar play on the field and admired for his respectful demeanor off of it.
And this just a few years after Mendoza was just a two-star prospect and not highly recruited coming out of his high school alma mater, Columbus in Miami.
“Unbelievable. I know we say that, but it truly was unbelievable,” said Mendoza’s mother, who was also an athlete and played tennis. “All the hard work really does pay off. It has really been a dream come true having both boys working together for this goal. It wasn’t just Fernando, it was Alberto also by his side. It’s about never giving up and look where it’s taken them. It’s a dream come true.”
Aside from his polite exterior, Mendoza’s toughness was on display on Monday night.
Late in the first quarter, Mendoza handed the ball off and faked a quarterback keeper. As he moved away from the ball, he was drilled in the face by Miami’s Jakobe Thomas. Cameras caught the sight of Mendoza bleeding from his lip.
But he stayed in the game and led Indiana to its first points on a Nico Radicic field goal.
“Fernando is great at interviews and comes off like the All-American guy, but he has the heart of a lion when it comes to competition,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. “He is a warrior and he got really smacked a few times in this game. That one drive there should have been two roughing the passers and a hit to the head that wasn’t called. I’m all for letting them play, but when you cross the line, it should be called. I can’t say enough about his effort on that play and our team finding a way to get it done.”
Miami increased its physicality with Mendoza in the second half and held him without a completed pass on three attempts in the third quarter.
Mendoza’s second back shoulder pass to Becker converted a 3rd and 7 with 2:58 left and kept the Hoosiers’ eventual field goal drive going.
“We’re still a little bit in shock, but it’s been fun to watch them grow and develop and this is a testament to their beliefs,” Mendoza Sr. said. “Fernando just willed it in every drive against a great UM team. Full respect to Miami. This was probably the toughest game they had all year.
“Maybe this won’t hit for a few days. But you always want to see your kids succeed. Hard work does pay off.”
This story was originally published January 20, 2026 at 3:18 AM.
