Up by three in the fourth quarter, Indiana's decision to go for it on fourth down paid off with a potentially legendary Fernando Mendoza scramble.

Indiana’s national championship is a sign of the changes that have happened to college football in recent years. However, it’s still Ohio State ahead of other big-name program

Indiana won the College Football Playoff national title Monday, defeating Miami 27-21 and culminating a 16-0 season. Fernando Mendoza ran for the game-winning touchdown.

Fernando Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy and is a likely early pick — perhaps first overall — in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Fernando Mendoza celebrated with his biggest fan after winning Indiana their first-ever college football title: his mother.

Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza caps off a storybook season with a win the 2026 College Football Playoff title game vs. Miami.

Ahead of his start in the national championship game, here's a look back at Fernando Mendoza's recruiting and whether Miami football recruited him.

The Indiana football team was facing fourth-and-4 from the Miami 12-yard line and held a 17-14 lead with 9:18 remaining. Instead of playing it safe, coach Curt Cignetti put the ball in the hands of his Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Here is what Mendoza told ESPN's Holly Rowe in an interview after the game:

Fernando Mendoza, who grew up in Miami, wasn't even offered a walk-on spot with the Hurricanes coming out of high school.