Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza shares special moment with parents after National Championship win

Jan 20, 2026 - 05:30

Indiana football reached its historic peak Monday night as the Hoosiers defeated the Miami Hurricanes 27–21 to win the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza guided Indiana to the first 16–0 finish in the history of the sport and delivered the defining moment with a hard-nosed 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-five in the fourth quarter. After the final whistle, Mendoza shared an emotional embrace with his parents on the field, a scene that captured the human side of Indiana’s first national title and capped a season defined by resilience and composure.