Overview
- Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza delivered the decisive fourth-quarter 12-yard rushing touchdown in the 27-21 win at Hard Rock Stadium.
- Mendoza repeatedly credited his Catholic faith after the game and throughout the season, including public pregame prayers and ties to Indiana’s Saint Paul Catholic Center.
- Head coach Curt Cignetti reshaped the roster via the portal, including 13 transfers from James Madison, as donors and NIL resources expanded, and his four-year record now stands at 46-6.
- Indiana’s rise featured no five-star recruits and followed years of heavy losing, underscoring the scale of the turnaround.
- NFL interest intensified, with Raiders leadership including Tom Brady attending the title game and some projections placing Mendoza as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft.