Heading into the 2026 Rose Bowl, Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack isn’t mincing words about what drives Indiana’s offense. For him, it all starts-and pretty much ends-with Fernando Mendoza.
“The Indiana offense goes where Mendoza goes,” Wommack said. And he’s not wrong.
Mendoza isn’t just the engine of the Hoosiers’ attack; he’s the whole ignition system. The Heisman Trophy winner has been the heartbeat of Indiana’s offense all season, the reason they’re in this College Football Playoff quarterfinal in the first place.
But if you think Alabama’s intimidated, think again.
“He’s a man just like me,” said Crimson Tide defensive lineman Tim Keenan III. “Of course he’s a great Heisman winner… but we’re going to play our game.”
That quiet confidence? It’s not just talk.
Alabama’s track record against Heisman-winning quarterbacks speaks for itself. The Crimson Tide have faced six Heisman winners since 1971-and walked away with five wins.
From legends like Tim Tebow to electric playmakers like Johnny Manziel and Kyler Murray, Alabama has seen it all. And more often than not, they’ve come out on top.
Let’s take a closer look at how Alabama has handled some of college football’s most decorated quarterbacks.
Kyler Murray - Oklahoma (2018 Sugar Bowl)
Just three weeks after edging out Tua Tagovailoa for the Heisman, Kyler Murray ran into a wall named Alabama.
The Sooners’ dual-threat dynamo did his best to keep Oklahoma alive, throwing for 308 yards and two scores while adding 109 yards and a touchdown on the ground. But Alabama’s defense made him work for everything.
Murray was sacked three times, and the Tide controlled the game en route to a 45-34 win that sent them to the national title game.
Johnny Manziel - Texas A&M (2013)
“Johnny Football” came into the 2013 showdown with Alabama riding high after a historic freshman season that earned him the Heisman.
And he didn’t disappoint in the rematch, lighting up the Tide for 464 passing yards, five touchdowns, and nearly 100 rushing yards. But Alabama weathered the storm.
Two key interceptions-one by Vinnie Sunseri, another by Cyrus Jones-proved to be the difference in a wild 49-41 win for the Crimson Tide.
Tim Tebow - Florida (2008 & 2009 SEC Championship Games)
Tebow had two cracks at Alabama after winning the Heisman in 2007.
In 2008, he delivered, throwing for 216 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 57 more in a 31-20 win that gave Florida the SEC crown. But the following year, Alabama flipped the script.
The Tide dominated the 2009 title game 32-13, holding Tebow to one touchdown and picking him off once. That win sent Alabama to the national championship-and marked the end of Tebow’s SEC reign.
Gino Torretta - Miami (1993 Sugar Bowl)
In Torretta’s final college game, Alabama’s defense made sure it was one to forget.
The 1992 Heisman winner came into the Sugar Bowl with a trophy case full of hardware, but left with three interceptions and a 34-13 loss. Torretta managed 278 passing yards but completed just 42.8% of his throws as Alabama cruised to a national title.
Pat Sullivan - Auburn (1971)
Sullivan had just won the Heisman two days earlier when he faced Alabama in the Iron Bowl.
But the celebration didn’t last long. The Crimson Tide defense smothered him and the Auburn offense, allowing just one touchdown in a 31-7 rout.
Auburn quarterbacks combined for only 152 passing yards and two interceptions in a game that was never close.
So when Alabama says it’s ready for Fernando Mendoza, it’s not just coach-speak. They’ve been here before-many times. And while Mendoza’s season has been nothing short of remarkable, the Crimson Tide have a history of turning Heisman hype into just another chapter in their postseason dominance.
The stage is set. The lights will be bright. And Alabama, as always, will be ready.