Overview
- Indiana overwhelmed Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal, with Fernando Mendoza going 14-of-16 for 192 yards and three touchdowns, including a 24-yard strike to Elijah Sarratt.
- The Hoosiers led 17-0 at halftime, limited Alabama to 67 passing yards before a QB injury, snapped the 12-team CFP bye-team skid, and scored their first Rose Bowl touchdown in program history.
- Mendoza’s postgame interview drew wide social media attention as he credited teammates and head coach Curt Cignetti and stressed the team’s no-complacency approach.
- Indiana is 13-0 after winning its first Big Ten title since 1967; Mendoza’s younger brother Alberto contributed as the backup (18-of-24, 286 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT; 184 rushing yards, 1 TD) in extended reps.
- NFL speculation intensified, with fans and analysts linking Mendoza to a potential No. 1 pick for the Raiders, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer saying Tom Brady is expected to weigh in and that Oregon’s Dante Moore could also factor, and ESPN’s Pete Thamel reporting a widespread expectation Mendoza will declare after the season.