Can a college football team with the second most losses in college football history win the National Championship? On January 19th, the Indiana Hoosiers’ football team proved it possible, making history by winning their first ever College Football National Championship.
Indiana University used to be a team that many people didn’t care about. They’ve lost 713 games in history, falling right behind Northwestern, but this season changed everything. They went 16-0 this season, giving themselves the opportunity to achieve a perfect season, but more importantly, to win the National Championship or “the Natty.” There are many factors that go into an undefeated season of college football. According to the New York Times, the moment that Coach Curt Cignetti took over Indiana’s program, “He began to press all the right buttons.” Curt Cignetti became the head coach for the Indiana Hoosiers in December 2023 where he turned the program around starting the first half of the following season at 8-0 until a loss stopped a potential perfect season.
Starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza played 3 years at University of California Berkeley before transferring to Indiana. In his first season in Indiana, he put on an incredible performance that led him to win The Heisman Trophy, arguably the biggest honor in college football. Mendoza led the Hoosiers to a 2025 Big Ten Championship victory over Ohio State, was Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year, set the record for Indiana University’s most touchdown passes, and won AP Player of the Year. He is the projected No 1. pick for the next NFL draft.
Fernando Mendoza grew up less than a mile from the Hard Rock Stadium, where the College Football Championship was played. He expressed to ESPN how grateful he was to play in this stadium in his hometown. Mendoza’s brother Alberto also plays for the Hoosiers as the team’s second string quarterback. The Mendoza brothers play for someone really special to them, their mom. Elsa Mendoza has battled multiple sclerosis or MS for 18 years. Their parents show up to every game, even with Elsa in a wheelchair. Their dad, also named Fernando, never stands up during games. He stays in his chair to make sure Elsa never feels left out.
The Hoosiers as a whole had many outstanding accomplishments this season. They became the only team to have a 16-0 record in college football history besides Yale in 1894. Many people thought this accomplishment would never be made again, but Indiana proved those people wrong. Mendoza’s devotion to his team shows how great of a leader he is for the Hoosiers. Mendoza told ESPN that he would die for his team after showing a clip of him being sacked three times by Miami’s defense. Many people are surprised to see the College Football Playoff trophy headed to Bloomington, Indiana after the team had been shown indifference for many years. The Indiana Hoosiers are finally a team that people truly care about.
On gameday, the excitement was in the air. Would Indiana finally win their first national title? The Indiana Hoosiers started off the game with a field goal kick made by Nico Radicic. Miami was constantly within reach of having the higher score, but fell short each time. Mendoza ran the ball into the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown. His trip to the endzone wasn’t easy, colliding with Jakobe Thomas and Wesley Bissainthe. He caught himself with one hand before Mohamed Toure and Xavier Lucas attempted to block him, but the 6-foot-5 quarterback arched over them, making it in the endzone.
With 44 seconds left in the game, Miami’s quarterback Carson Beck attempted to make a pass, but it was intercepted by Indiana’s Jamari Sharpe, making Miami’s chance of a comeback disappear.
Hoosier fans showed up filling nearly 60% of the seats at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. One fan, Andrew Bailey, dressed up as a bison to celebrate the return of the bison as Indiana’s mascot. When talking to reporters he said, “Join the herd.”
One couple showed up to Tom’s Watch Bar in Bloomington, Indiana at 3 p.m. to secure a table. The bar has 135 televisions and each one was playing the National Championship. One movie theater in Bloomington, Indiana showed the game on the big screen with many fans enjoying the game with popcorn and other movie theater classics.
We don’t know what next season will bring for Indiana as they decide on a replacement for Fernando Mendoza as he is expected to enter the NFL Draft. Josh Hoover, a transfer from Texas Christian University, could be the answer. Alberto Mendoza, Fernando’s brother, has recently entered the transfer portal and signed with Georgia Tech. Besides the Mendoza brothers, Indiana has three other quarterback players waiting for their time to shine. Will that time be the 2027 season?
