Fernando Mendoza and Curt Cignetti combined for one of the ballsiest play calls of the season late in Monday’s College Football Playoff title game.
Indiana led Miami 17-14 midway through the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Mendoza failed to convert on an end zone strike on 3rd-and-5 from the Hurricanes’ 12, leading most to assume that the Hoosiers were going to settle for a field goal.
Cignetti instead called a timeout, signaling that Indiana was going to go for it. The play was a designed run for Mendoza to get a first down. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner got more than just a fresh set of downs, getting past several defenders to muscle his way for a touchdown.
FERNANDO. MENDOZA.
— ESPN (@espn) January 20, 2026
THE PLAY OF A LIFETIME ‼️ pic.twitter.com/g3o5nNNslr
Mendoza took some serious contact on his way into the end zone. The Hoosiers star was not to be denied with college football immortality at stake. Considering the context, it’s hard to deny that Mendoza’s stellar TD run deserves to be called the Play of the Year.
The 22-year-old was battered, bruised, and bloodied throughout the contest. But he was still willing to put his body on the line for Cignetti and the Hoosier faithful.
Mendoza’s efforts paid off as Indiana held on for a 27-21 victory over Miami to win their first college football championship in program history.
