Fernando Mendoza goes '90 yards with the boys' to deliver Hiesman-worthy drive at Penn State

Last November, back in Berkeley, Fernando Mendoza started on his own 2-yard line against Stanford with 7:35 left and went “98 yards with my boys,” leading what would become one of the most memorable drives in Cal history. He called it, at the time, “the most special moment in my life.”

Saturday, 350 days later, Mendoza topped it.

This time it was for No. 2 Indiana, deep inside Beaver Stadium, trailing Penn State 24-20. This time it was against one of the loudest, most hostile crowds in college football. This time it was a stage that would test everything Mendoza had shown over the past season. And once again, in his words, he went “90 yards with his boys.”

“This, by far, is the best moment of my career,” Mendoza said after Indiana’s 27-24 win over Penn State. “These are game-winning drives that you dream of as a kid.”

Indiana faced second-and-17 from its own 13-yard line with 1:51 remaining. The Hoosiers had no timeouts. Mendoza had just been sacked for the third time on the previous play, and the stadium — loud but not filled to capacity — seemed poised to witness the culmination of a season that had offered little joy in Happy Valley.

Over the next nine plays, Mendoza moved the Hoosiers methodically down the field. He connected with four different receivers, each catch precise and critical. The offense, which had been kept out of the end zone since the second quarter, suddenly felt alive again. The interception two drives prior, the deficit, the lack of timeouts — none of it seemed to faze Mendoza.

The drive culminated in a 7-yard throw to the back of the end zone to receiver Omar Cooper Jr., who somehow managed to get his left toe down while being shoved by a Penn State defender.

“Probably the craziest catch I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” wideout Charlie Becker said. “I mean, the body control that Omar has is just unreal. I can’t even put into words, it was crazy.”

“It’s definitely a good catch,” linebacker Rolijah Hardy added. “Great pass by the QB. I think it’s just a great catch — one-of-a-kind type catch.”

Even that seemed to undersell it. Linebacker Aiden Fisher said Hardy was downplaying the play slightly, highlighting just how extraordinary the catch — and the throw — was.

TRENDING: ‘Refused to lose’: Indiana shows championship potential with improbable win at Penn State

Mendoza’s season-long pattern of late-game heroics was on full display. Indiana had already executed dramatic fourth-quarter drives on the road at Iowa and Oregon, both after Mendoza had thrown interceptions earlier in the game. The drive at Penn State mirrored those moments — yet the stakes felt higher, the stadium larger and the pressure more intense.

“You know what? This was an unbelievable win. I’ve seen a lot of stuff in my days,” head coach Curt Cignetti said after the game to FOX’s Jenny Taft, his voice cracking with emotion. “I’ve never seen anything quite like this.”

Mendoza finished the game 19-for-30 passing for 218 yards, two total touchdowns and an interception. Statistically, it was an unexceptional day, but the final drive demonstrated why Mendoza has earned a reputation as one of college football’s most dependable closers.

Each game-winning drive this season has come under similar conditions: hostile road stadiums and high-pressure situations. At Iowa, Mendoza led a 76-yard touchdown drive; at Oregon, a 75-yard touchdown drive; and at Penn State, an 80-yard, effectively 87-yard drive. Each exemplifies his ability to maintain composure, execute under dures and lead his team when it matters most.

And yet Mendoza has little interest in awards or national attention.

“Our goal isn’t to win the Heisman, the Blinketoff or any other end-of-season awards,” he said. “Our goal is to go 1-0 against Wisconsin, beat Purdue and have our best playoff yet.”

Cignetti emphasized the developmental focus.

“I don’t really think about that,” he said when asked about Mendoza’s case for the Heisman. “We’re trying to develop him to become the best player he can be.”

Mendoza’s approach contrasts sharply with some of the recent Heisman winners known for their branding, celebrations and in-your-face media presence. Here, the quarterback is focused entirely on fundamentals, poise and execution. The awards discussion is left to observers, not the player himself.

Saturday’s drive showcased the combination of patience, timing and field awareness that has defined Mendoza’s season.

On first down from the 20-yard line, he was sacked back to the 13-yard line. On second down, he moved the chains. Cooper’s final catch, on third-and-goal with 36 seconds left, was both a triumph of precision passing and extraordinary athleticism.

The Hoosiers were missing star wide receiver Elijah Sarratt, the team’s top receiver, sidelined with a hamstring injury. Mendoza’s ability to adjust, distribute and trust his other receivers underscored his growth as a quarterback who elevates those around him.

With three weeks remaining in the season, Mendoza has now accounted for 30 total touchdowns — 26 passing and four rushing — with 2,324 passing yards and just five interceptions. He has completed 71.3 percent of his passes. These statistics alone are notable, but the contextual weight of the road game wins and late drives enhances their significance.

The Penn State victory continues a season-long demonstration of Mendoza’s clutch play and leadership. Each of the three major road wins required him to rebound from late interceptions and adverse conditions, yet he has consistently delivered in the moments that mattered most.

Mendoza has proven that he is a quarterback who consistently produces when the stakes are highest. He does not need to pose or claim attention; his work on the field speaks for itself.

The road game trilogy — Iowa, Oregon and Penn State — illustrates a repeated pattern. The Penn State drive, executed in the nation’s second-largest stadium, may be the most complete of the three, combining timing, poise and the ability to maximize the contributions of multiple receivers.

Coach Q&A: Curt Cignetti reacts to Indiana’s win over Penn State

While there’s still two games are still left in the regular season, the significance of Saturday’s victory is clear. The 98-yard drive at Cal was Mendoza’s origin story. The 87-yard drive at Penn State stands as a demonstration of his full maturation, the apex of a season defined by resilience under pressure.

There was no celebration. No choreographed pose. No media-ready moment. Just the throw. The toe tap. The stadium’s collective gasp. The quiet acknowledgment that this quarterback delivered, once again, when it mattered most.

Statistics and scores tell part of the story. Mendoza’s final drive at Penn State tells another: under pressure, on the road, against one of college football’s most intimidating environments, Mendoza once again delivered for his team.

Going 98 yards with his boys at Cal was the origin story, a glimpse of what Mendoza could do under pressure. Going effectively 87 yards with his boys in Happy Valley was an exclamation point on a campaign that has been worthy of the Heisman Trophy.

In each case, he delivered when it mattered most, showing that whether in Berkeley or State College, Mendoza can lead his team in the toughest moments. Whether or not he wins the award, Mendoza is Indiana’s Heisman — and Saturday at Penn State was the latest proof.

Not yet a member of TheHoosier?  Join our community for Just $1 for your first week and get a complimentary year of The Athletic included with your membership. Join here!

Use the code “IND20” on Rhoback.com for a generous 20% off for all new customers through the end of this week. Rhoback — Best Fit, Best Feel.