Indiana's star quarterback put the cherry on top of the stunning season that wouldn't have been possible without him.

The Hoosiers passed up a field-goal opportunity to go for it in a close game, and it paid off with the most memorable play of the season.

Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza historic CFP win inspires his hometown of Miami, spotlighting the next generation of high school football players.

The Indiana football team was facing fourth-and-4 from the Miami 12-yard line and held a 17-14 lead with 9:18 remaining. Instead of playing it safe, coach Curt Cignetti put the ball in the hands of his Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Here is what Mendoza told ESPN's Holly Rowe in an interview after the game:

Fernando Mendoza celebrated with his biggest fan after winning Indiana their first-ever college football title: his mother.

Indiana took home the college football national title with one play call by Curt Cignetti and one run by Fernando Mendoza,

Fernando Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy and is a likely early pick — perhaps first overall — in the 2026 NFL Draft.