Mendoza, Sayin set to battle for Big Ten title with Heisman on the line

Back in October, former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart made a prediction:

“If [Indiana] continues to do what they’re doing, which I imagine they will, and they’re probably going to play Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, that’s the stage that’s set for [Fernando Mendoza] to win the Heisman Trophy. It just is. That’s what it will be.”

And Leinart was exactly correct.

At 8 p.m. on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IU and Ohio State will battle for the Big Ten Championship, but their respective quarterbacks will also be competing for the most prestigious individual award in college football.

Mendoza is the odds-on favorite to take home the hardware, but his largest competition comes in the form of his opposing quarterback on Saturday night.

Julian Sayin has had a terrific season for the Buckeyes, throwing for 3,065 yards and 30 touchdowns while only throwing five interceptions the entire year.

He stands in elite company as one of only two quarterbacks to throw for at least 30 touchdowns and no more than five picks. The other quarterback to do so? Well, that’s Mendoza, of course.

The Indiana quarterback totaled 2,758 yards and 32 touchdowns, also with just five interceptions on the year. He was 211-for-293 on passing attempts throughout the season, good for 72%.

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Sayin had the nation’s best completion percentage at 78.9%, doing so on 258-for-327 attempts. The Buckeye quarterback had the best passer rating in the country as well, with Mendoza coming right behind him at second nationally.

These two have separated themselves from the pack, and despite what Diego Pavia or Jeremiah Love supporters will tell you, the Heisman Trophy will be decided based on which quarterback outplays the other on Saturday night.

As a redshirt freshman, Sayin led his team to a 12-0 record and opened a lot of eyes along the way — including Mendoza’s.

“I really respect Julian. He is so effective and he fits the offense perfectly,” Mendoza told reporters on Monday ahead of the Big Ten Championship Game.

“As a quarterback, you know, I like to say that stats aren’t everything, but as a quarterback, I would say every quarterback prides himself on completion percentage, and his completion percentage is out of this world.”

Mendoza wasn’t the only one to praise Sayin’s poise as a first-year starter, as Curt Cignetti was quick to recognize the Ohio State QB.

“He doesn’t look like a guy that’s in his first year as a starter. He looks like he sees the field very well, throws the ball on rhythm. He can really rip it. He’s got a tight release, a lot of velocity on the ball, very accurate,” Indiana’s head coach said.

It’s no secret that Sayin can play, and he’s deserved the recognition to become one of the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy. Mendoza is right there with him, though, and for very good reason.

Mendoza has led three game-winning drives, all on the road, and led the Hoosiers to their only 12-0 regular season in program history. He broke the Indiana single-season passing touchdown record in just 11 games and has been truly spectacular during this historic season of IU football.

“He can make every throw, he can extend plays with his legs. But he’s a great leader. His leadership qualities outweigh a lot of those things because he knows how to command the offense, he knows how to command the team,” running back Roman Hemby said following practice on Tuesday.

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Mendoza will never compliment himself, but his teammates can’t stop doing so because of how much he means to Indiana’s success. And for an award that is given to the “most outstanding player in college football,” the Hoosiers’ words certainly make it seem like their quarterback is worthy.

“That dude’s earned it. He’s the best player in the country, and he showed that today,” linebacker Aiden Fisher said after Indiana came back to beat Penn State.

The game-winning drive against the Nittany Lions was a display of how Mendoza can change a game on the field, but the award also encapsulates who the player is as a teammate, leader and person.

Sayin has done a terrific job of leading his team to a fantastic season, while Mendoza has been the heart and soul of Indiana’s offense.

“Fernando never ceases to amaze me. He’s so deep. He’s so intelligent. He’s such a good and caring, giving person,” Cignetti said early in November.

You could make strong arguments for both Mendoza and Sayin to win the award, but at the end of the day, the winner might be the quarterback who leads his team to victory on Saturday.

In a season filled with firsts, Indiana is in search of a Heisman Trophy winner for the first time in program history, and it can get it done while securing its first-ever Big Ten Championship victory.

Saturday in downtown Indianapolis is historic for so many reasons, and one of them lies in deciding who will take home the Heisman Trophy.

It’s rare to see two Heisman favorites face off late in the season, but in a conference championship game? That’s the stuff legends are made of.

For both Mendoza and Sayin, they have a chance to immortalize themselves in college football glory in multiple ways.

It’s not a stretch to say that the winning quarterback will take home the Heisman Trophy, as what happens in New York City on December 13 might be decided a week earlier in downtown Indianapolis.

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