Indiana Hoosiers cap greatest story college football’s ever told

That really happened.

The Indiana Hoosiers claimed the first college football national championship in program history on Monday, capping the greatest story the sport’s ever told with a 27-21 win over the Miami Hurricanes.

Here’s our rapid reaction from a College Football Playoff classic.

Fernando Mendoza’s touchdown an instantly iconic college football moment

Build the statue now. 

Mendoza’s touchdown run that gave Indiana a 24-14 fourth-quarter lead will live on as one of college football’s most memorable plays ever. The 2025 Heisman winner took the quarterback draw on fourth down, weaved between defenders, bounced off another and extended the ball across the goal line while falling forward to complete the remarkable score.

“No better moment,” Mendoza, who was named offensive MVP, said on the podium after the game. He had a modest game overall by his standards, going 16-of-27 for 186 yards, but when Indiana needed Mendoza to make a play, he did something special. 

The Las Vegas Raiders should be ecstatic. It’s getting a special player at No. 1 overall in this April’s NFL Draft.