Overview
- Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza delivered the defining play with a tackle-breaking 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 remaining.
- Special teams flipped the game when Mikail Kamara’s block led to Isaiah Jones’ touchdown return, and Jamari Sharpe sealed it with an interception at 0:44.
- Indiana completed a perfect 16-0 season, matching a major-college win total last achieved in 1894.
- Cignetti’s turnaround has produced a 27-2 record over two seasons after Indiana went 9-27 in the prior three years.
- Billionaire alumnus Mark Cuban has recently increased football donations for the transfer cycle, and Mendoza now draws widespread No. 1 draft projections with NFL figures such as Tom Brady in attendance.