The Indiana Hoosiers are on the doorstep of history.
One more win, and they’ll etch their name alongside the greats - not just as College Football Playoff champions, but as one of the rare teams to finish an entire season undefeated. Only five teams have pulled that off in the CFP era.
Add in the BCS years, and the list grows to just 14. That’s the kind of company Indiana is chasing, and on Monday night, they’ll get their shot.
It’s not just a big game - it’s the game. And in Bloomington, the energy is already boiling over.
On the eve of the title clash, Hoosiers fans turned the streets into a scene straight out of a sports movie. Lines wrapped around local bars as students camped out overnight, hoping to lock in a front-row seat to witness history - even if it’s through a TV screen.
The Upstairs Pub, a staple in town, was jam-packed before the sun even came up. The message was clear: no one wants to miss a second of this.
And why would they? This isn’t just about a title.
It’s about a program that’s never been here before - not just never won a national championship, but never even played for one. Until now.
Much of that rise can be traced back to one name: Fernando Mendoza.
The Heisman Trophy winner has been nothing short of spectacular all season. He’s not just the best quarterback in college football - he’s been the most dominant player in the country, period. And now, he’s got a chance to cap off his storybook season with a championship.
But this one’s personal.
The title game is being played in Miami - Mendoza’s hometown. He grew up just a few miles from the University of Miami, attended Christopher Columbus High School, and still has deep roots in the city. His father, Fernando Mendoza Sr., even played high school football with Mario Cristobal, the current head coach of the Hurricanes.
And yet, Miami never came calling.
As a three-star recruit, Mendoza didn’t get the hometown offer. So he took his talents across the country to Cal, where he began carving out his path. That journey eventually led him to Indiana, and now, just a few years later, he’s the top quarterback in the nation and the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Now, he returns to Miami - not for revenge, but for redemption. For legacy.
“This game means a lot to myself,” Mendoza said in a recent interview with Big Ten Network. “We’re playing the University of Miami in Miami.
So there could be a lot of emotions. My perspective has always been to widen it and realize how much this means to all of my teammates, all my coaches, and not just myself.
It means so much, the National Championship Game, that I am doing everything possible for preparation because I owe it to my teammates, my coaches and Hoosier Nation.”
That’s been Mendoza’s mindset all season - team-first, always. But make no mistake: this moment is massive for him.
And for the Hoosiers, it’s everything. They’ve already proven they belong, knocking off powerhouse programs and riding Mendoza’s arm all the way to the title game. One more win, and they’ll complete one of the most improbable - and unforgettable - runs in college football history.
The stage is set. The stakes couldn’t be higher. And Indiana, led by a quarterback with something to prove in the city that once overlooked him, is ready to make history.