Indiana’s national championship run will be immortalized in the history books for its fairytale journey and for the unwavering belief it exhibited through it all. It will also be remembered for one fourth-down decision in the title game, led by head coach Curt Cignetti and quarterback Fernando Mendoza, that changed everything.
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Midway through the fourth quarter, Indiana was clinging to a three-point lead and staring at a fourth-and-4 inside Miami’s red zone. HC Cignetti made a stunning call. He waved off the field goal unit, burned a timeout, and trusted his quarterback to make a play.
Mendoza took the draw, slipped past the first wave, absorbed contact, and then, instead of sliding like most QBs do to protect themselves, launched himself horizontally toward the goal line. He broke multiple tackles before stretching the ball across. Fernando was airborne for a few seconds and even bruised his arms badly during the play.
Watching from the stands, Mendoza’s mother, Elsa, lived every second of it. And as expected, she was concerned seeing her son throw his body the way he did toward the end zone. “You’re a quarterback, not a running back,” she joked afterwards, recalling her first thought as her son bulldozed defenders and got airborne.
Fernando Mendoza throwing arm. Championship toughness @IndianaFootball pic.twitter.com/Yt7PXPdEH8
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) January 20, 2026
The fourth-down run wasn’t improvisation, though. Coaches had discussed the play all week, and Mendoza had the option to throw if the look dictated it.
As it turned out, he trusted his legs and his heart. “Fernando has the heart of a lion when it comes to competition… He’ll do whatever it takes,” HC Cignetti said of the play.
Elsa Mendoza echoed the same sentiment: “As he says, he’ll do anything to help his team get a touchdown. And he did.”
Despite the heroics, the touchdown didn’t seal the game. But it created just enough separation for Indiana to close out a 27-21 win and claim its first-ever national championship.
The emotions, understandably, overflowed after the game. Speaking moments after watching her son lift Indiana to CFB’s summit, Mama Mendoza struggled to put words to the moment.
“This is a dream come true. I know I say that, but it’s really a dream come true. It’s so overwhelming… It’s just like an outburst… All of this is so special because I know how bad he wanted it… And how hard he worked to get here,” said Elsa.
Talking to Fernando Mendoza’s parents after he won the national championship. Fernando’s mom told me she’s going to remind Fernando that he’s a quarterback not a running back after that fourth down touchdown run. pic.twitter.com/a1rkGc1C2i
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) January 20, 2026
The hard work Elsa mentionedwas on full display all season. Mendoza, a Heisman Trophy winner, leading a roster of overlooked and under-recruited players, embodied Indiana’s identity under Cignetti: bet on yourself, even when nobody else does.
After the game, the QB reiterated that belief. “A big constant we’ve had all year is always betting on ourselves,” he said. “Whether it’s preseason, when nobody thinks we can make it, or on the biggest stage of the game… we knew we were going to better ourselves one more time.”
Fernando’s airborne touchdown is bound to be one of the most impactful plays in CFB history. For Elsa Mendoza, though, her son’s leap will forever live as both a mother’s nightmare and a moment of pride.
