Fernando Mendoza bulldozed his way into the end zone and Indiana bullied their way into the history books on Monday night, toppling Miami 27-21 too cap an undefeated season and claim the national title.
The Heisman Trophy winner finished with 186 yards passing, but his tackle-breaking, 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-four with 9:18 left defined both the game and the Hoosiers’ season.
“I had to go airborne. I’d die for my team,” said Mendoza, the likely No. 1 pick in this year’s NFL draft. “They need me to take a shot, front or back, whatever it is indeed, I’m going to do it, and I know they’d do it for me. that’s what makes us so close and this national championship so special.”
Mendoza’s touchdown gave turnaround artist Curt Cignetti’s team a 10-point lead – just enough to withstand a late charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes. Miami bloodied Mendoza’s lip early, then came to life behind 112 yards and two scores from running back Mark Fletcher, but they never took the lead.
“Let me tell you what. We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done! Words can’t describe it,” said Cignetti.
The college Football Playoff trophy now heads to Bloomington, Indiana - a campus that endured a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years of football before Cignetti arrived two years ago to begin an unusual revival.
