Indiana’s Mendoza delivers electrifying scramble for TD late against Miami
By David Wasson
Published:
The Indiana Hoosiers have received big plays and big moments from Fernando Mendoza all season long. And with a chance to win the program’s first national championship within their grasp Monday night in the College Football Playoff title game, Mendoza delivered again.
The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback put the Hoosiers ahead 24-14 with an electrifying 12-yard scramble for a touchdown on fourth down with 9:18 to play – capping a series that saw Indiana coach Curt Cignetti twice roll the dice on 4th down.
After Cignetti called timeout to talk through going for it on 4th-and-4 at the Miami 12-yard line, Mendoza dropped to pass but quickly scrambled up the middle – getting hit by two Hurricanes defenders at the 5 and diving across the goal line.
Mendoza led Indiana to its first consensus Big Ten title since 1945 and won Indiana’s first Heisman Trophy in 2025 with special plays like the touchdown run. Most notably, Mendoza calmly directed the Hoosiers the length of the field against Penn State to win 27-24 – a drive capped by Omar Cooper Jr.’s toe-tap touchdown grab 36 seconds to play.
Mendoza’s scramble for a touchdown was one of his lone notable plays up to that point Monday against Miami. The presumptive No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick was 14-for-25 for 153 yards and absorbed three sacks.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
