"MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Fernando Mendoza bulldozed his way into the end zone and Indiana bullied its way into the history books Monday night, toppling Miami 27-21 to put the finishing touch on a rags-to-riches story, an undefeated season and the national title. The Heisman Trophy winner finished with 186 yards passing, but it was his tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left that defined this game - and the Hoosiers' season."
"Indiana would not be denied. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza celebrates after scoring against Miami during College Football Playoff national championship, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Mendoza's TD gave turnaround artist Curt Cignetti's team a 10-point lead - barely enough breathing room to hold off a frenzied charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes, who bloodied Mendoza's lip early, then came to life late behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher but never took the lead."
"The College Football Playoff trophy now heads to the most unlikely of places: Bloomington, Indiana - a campus that endured a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years of football before Cignetti arrived two years ago to embark on a revival for the ages. Indiana finished 16-0 - using the extra games afforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match a perfect-season win total last compiled by Yale in 1894."
Fernando Mendoza led Indiana to a 27-21 victory over Miami, scoring a decisive 12-yard touchdown on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 remaining. Mendoza finished with 186 passing yards and a bruising rushing performance that defined the game. Curt Cignetti's coaching revival included two fourth-quarter gambles that put Mendoza in position to shine. Miami mounted a late rally driven by Mark Fletcher's 112 yards and two touchdowns but never took the lead. Indiana reached a 16-0 record, using the expanded 12-team playoff format, capping a program turnaround after a history of 713 losses.
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]