Overview
- Fernando Mendoza led a no‑timeout, 10‑play drive covering roughly 73–80 yards in 1:15, finding Omar Cooper Jr. for a toe‑tap touchdown with 36 seconds left to seal a 27–24 win.
- Indiana improved to 10–0 and 7–0 in the Big Ten with its first road victory over Penn State, reinforcing its Big Ten title and College Football Playoff positioning as the Nittany Lions fell to 3–6.
- DraftKings moved Mendoza to +150 as the Heisman favorite after the game, with multiple outlets noting his surge to the front of the race.
- Mendoza finished 19-of-30 for 218 yards with one passing touchdown and one interception and also ran for a score, earning praise from Penn State interim coach Terry Smith for repeatedly getting up under heavy pressure.
- NFL interest intensified, with ESPN reporting New York Jets GM Darren Mougey and senior advisor Rick Spielman attended the game and a separate ESPN survey of scouts and executives projecting Mendoza as a leading 2026 QB prospect.