Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza just wrapped up a season that won’t be forgotten anytime soon-not in Bloomington, not across the Big Ten, and certainly not in the college football history books.
The Heisman Trophy winner led Indiana to a perfect 16-0 record and the program’s first-ever national championship. That alone is headline material.
But here’s the kicker: it was the first 16-win season in college football in 132 years. Let that sink in.
We’re talking about a run that not only redefined Indiana football but etched the Hoosiers into the sport’s all-time lore.
And while the championship hardware and Heisman buzz rightfully took center stage, there was one moment-one play-that might end up being the true snapshot of this unforgettable ride.
Late in the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami Gardens, Indiana was clinging to a one-score lead. It was fourth-and-5, deep in crunch time.
Everyone expected Mendoza to pass-he’d been slicing up defenses all season with his arm. But instead, he kept it.
A quarterback draw. He tucked the ball, slipped through a collapsing pocket, dodged multiple defenders, and dove into the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown.
That score gave Indiana a two-possession cushion and, in essence, sealed the title.
It was the kind of gutsy, game-breaking moment that defines legends. And the Spanish-language call from ESPN Deportes, delivered by Eduardo Varela and Pablo Viruega, matched the moment beat for beat.
As Mendoza-a proud Cuban-American-crossed the goal line, their voices rose with the kind of passion and energy that transcends language. The clip quickly went viral, and for good reason.
It was more than just a touchdown call; it was a cultural moment, a celebration of heritage and history wrapped into one unforgettable play.
Mendoza’s journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable. After transferring from Cal ahead of the 2025 season, he quickly found his rhythm under new head coach Curt Cignetti.
The numbers speak for themselves: 3,535 passing yards, a school-record 41 touchdowns, and a blistering 72 percent completion rate. Those stats aren’t just good-they’re elite.
And they came while leading a program that had never sniffed this kind of success before.
Indiana wasn’t just winning games-they were making a statement. And Mendoza was the engine behind it all.
This season wasn’t just about breaking records or lifting trophies. It was about rewriting what’s possible for a program that had long lived in the shadows of college football’s elite.
Fernando Mendoza didn’t just have a great season-he had a historic one. And in the process, he gave Indiana fans a reason to dream bigger than ever before.