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Fernando Mendoza unloads passionate reasoning to stay in despite injury: 'I'm going to put my life on the line for my team'

Danby: Daniel Hager13 hours agoDanielHagerOn3
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Nov 8, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) runs with the ball during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

No. 2 Indiana improved to 10-0 (7-0) Saturday afternoon thanks to a gritty, come-from-behind 27-24 win over Penn State in Happy Valley. It marked Indiana‘s first road victory over the Nittany Lions in program history.

Trailing 24-20 with just under two minutes remaining, Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Fernando Mendoza led the Hoosiers on a 10 play, 85-yard drive to take the lead with 36 seconds remaining in regulation. Mendoza found receiver Omar Cooper Jr. in the back of the end zone for a seven-yard score, in which Cooper Jr. made one of the best catches of the college football season.

Following the monstrous win for Curt Cignetti‘s program, Mendoza revealed that he’d ‘die on the field for his brothers’ as it looks like Indiana will be making its second consecutive appearance in the College Football Playoff.

“Physically, I feel good,” Mendoza said. “I would say I’m a larger quarterback, but to see what the defense, special teams, and offense (especially the offensive line) go through, battling every play, I can’t stay on the ground. It doesn’t matter how hard the hit is or how much it hurts.”

“Seeing those guys battling their butts off, I know I’m going to put my life on the line for my team. I would die on that field. I would never sub myself out in that instance. I’d die on the field for my brothers.”

In the win on Saturday, Mendoza completed 19/30 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown and one interception. On the season, the Cal transfer boasts 2,342 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and six interceptions. During Saturday night’s broadcast of No. 9 Oregon vs. No. 20 Iowa on CBS, Mendoza was hailed as one of the leading Heisman candidates alongside Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin.

With No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana not scheduled to play in the regular season, the Big Ten Championship Game will mark the first meeting of the season between Mendoza and Sayin. Sayin’s Heisman candidacy continued to get stronger on Saturday, as the sophomore passed for 303 yards and one touchdown in the Buckeyes’ 34-10 win over Purdue.