MIAMI - On the eve of the College Football Playoff National Championship, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Elijah Sarratt delivered more than just leadership-they brought the heat off the field, too.
The Hoosiers’ quarterback-receiver duo surprised their teammates with a full-on Adidas gear drop ahead of Monday night’s title clash with No. 10 Miami.
We're talking Harden Volume 10 sneakers, Purechills, Control 5s, fresh apparel, and even custom Indiana-branded suitcases. It was a moment that turned a team meeting into something out of a sneakerhead’s dream.
Both Mendoza and Sarratt signed NIL deals with Adidas this season. Mendoza inked his ahead of the Heisman Trophy ceremony, where he was one of college football’s most talked-about names. Sarratt, who’s been on the receiving end of plenty of Mendoza’s big-time throws this year, joined the Adidas roster earlier this month.
“Blessed to be able to get you boys right, man, let’s go get this dub tomorrow,” Sarratt said in a video posted to social media, capturing the moment the gifts were unveiled.
But Mendoza’s impact hasn’t stopped at the locker room door. During his trip to New York for the Heisman festivities, he teamed up with Adidas to host a shopping spree for four families affected by multiple sclerosis. Each family received $10,000 to spend-an initiative that added another layer to Mendoza’s growing legacy, both as a player and a person.
And this isn’t the first time Mendoza has gone the extra mile for his team. Earlier in the season, he and his brother, Alberto, gifted every Indiana player a pair of wireless headphones from JLab. It’s clear that Mendoza doesn’t just lead with his arm-he leads with heart.
The Hoosiers, a perfect 15-0 and ranked No. 1, wrapped up their final walkthrough of the season Sunday afternoon at FIU’s campus. Now, all eyes shift to Hard Rock Stadium, where Indiana will look to cap off a historic season with a national title.
One more game. One more chance to make history. And thanks to their star duo, the Hoosiers will be walking into it in style.