Fernando Mendoza, the star quarterback for Indiana, has recently been spotted engaging with social media after a period of digital detox. This unexpected return to online interaction came when he liked a photo of influencer Gia Duddy, who was captured in a bikini while enjoying a beach day in Oahu, Hawaii.

Just last Monday, Mendoza led his team, the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers, to their first-ever national championship by defeating No. 10 Miami in a thrilling 27-21 game. The victory marked the end of a perfect 16-0 season, making it only the second time in modern history that a team has achieved such a feat.

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Throughout Indiana’s impressive 2025 season, Mendoza chose to minimize distractions by removing most social media apps from his phone, leaving only LinkedIn and YouTube. This decision helped him maintain focus and stay grounded during the high-pressure moments of the College Football Playoff (CFP) journey.

“I’m really stepping back and keeping to my process, keeping to my routine, and not changing too much,” Mendoza shared with media before the Hoosiers’ dominant 56-22 win over Oregon in the CFP semifinals. “Also, not having social media – I only have LinkedIn and YouTube on my phone right now. It’s really helped put things into perspective and keep all the opinions in-the-building.”

Mendoza emphasized that he listens to the advice of his quarterback coach, Coach Chandler Whitmer, and the other quarterbacks in his team. This approach has allowed him to perform at his best throughout the season.

Now that the Hoosiers’ incredible CFP journey has concluded, Mendoza seems to have lifted his self-imposed social media blackout. Observant fans noticed him liking a post from Gia Duddy on Thursday, showcasing her relaxing vacation in Hawaii.

Duddy gained popularity in 2023 when she appeared alongside her then-boyfriend Will Levis during the NFL Draft. The couple, who broke up in September 2023, often found themselves in the spotlight as cameras captured their moments during the draft night.

Despite Mendoza’s efforts to avoid social media, he admitted that he couldn’t completely escape hearing about mock drafts that placed him as a potential top overall selection. The Heisman Trophy winner has been strongly linked to the Las Vegas Raiders, with majority owner Mark Davis, minority owner Tom Brady, and general manager John Spytek attending his performance in the National Championship.

Over 16 games, Mendoza completed 273 of 379 passes for 3,535 yards, leading the FBS with 41 touchdown passes against just six interceptions. He also added 90 carries for 276 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

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” Naturally, a couple of my friends will send me [them], and say, ‘Look how this is,'” Mendoza revealed before the 91st annual Heisman Trophy Ceremony. “It’s similar to the Heisman award, in Week 4 with Illinois when they posted Fernando Mendoza was a frontrunner or could be one of the Heisman finalists, it was still so far. Hopefully, that’s a reality, but at this point I’m going to keep on doing what’s been working for me and keep each game at a time, especially the College Football Playoff.”