The Indiana Hoosiers have been the most dominant team in college football this season. Their undefeated record has led them to the National Championship game, where they will face Miami on Monday night at the latter’s home stadium. This matchup is expected to be a tough challenge for the Hoosiers, despite their strong performance throughout the season.

Fernando Mendoza, the star quarterback for Indiana, has had an incredible year. He won the Heisman Trophy after leading his team to victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship. Mendoza is currently projected to be the number-one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Notably, Tom Brady and Mark Davis were in attendance at the game, as the Raiders hold the top pick in the draft.

Early in the game, the Hoosiers faced a controversial no-call that could have changed the course of the match. In the first quarter, Mendoza was hit during a fake handoff play. Jakobe Thomas tackled him from underneath his chin, causing Mendoza to suffer a bloody lip. Despite the brutal hit, Mendoza quickly got back up. However, the officials did not call a penalty on the play.

ESPN referee analyst Bill LeMonnier believed that the play should have been flagged for targeting. According to LeMonnier, Thomas used the crown of his helmet to strike Mendoza’s helmet. Kirk Herbstreit suggested that the officials may have missed the call because Mendoza was faking a handoff.

Former NFL referee Terry McAulay also thought the play was a clear case of targeting. Despite this, the officials did not throw the flag. Had the call been made, Indiana would have received an automatic first down, potentially leading to a touchdown. Instead, the Hoosiers settled for a field goal on that drive.

This was the only scoring opportunity for Indiana in the first quarter. While they managed to keep the Hurricanes scoreless, they could have built a larger lead heading into the second half of the game.

The Indiana Hoosiers Have Dominated Opponents

Before reaching the National Championship game, the Hoosiers had already proven their dominance by defeating some of the toughest teams in the country. They crushed the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl with a final score of 38-3. Then, they went on to defeat Oregon in a rematch with a decisive 56-22 victory. These wins mark one of the best seasons in Indiana football history.

For Mendoza, winning a national championship has been a goal since the start of the season. Even after taking a hard hit during the game, he continued to perform at a high level, throwing the ball down the field with precision. Mendoza also endured a similar hit against the Ohio State Buckeyes, yet he still led his team to victory.

The Hoosiers have experienced one of the most remarkable program turnarounds in college football history. Head coach Curt Cignetti was rewarded with a significant contract extension at the end of the regular season for guiding his team through an unbeaten schedule. Additionally, Indiana donors have contributed to the team’s success through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) funds.

On Monday night, several seniors will be playing their final games of their college football careers. Mendoza is undoubtedly the most well-known among them.

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