Fernando Mendoza on the CFP NCG homecoming
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was born in Boston but grew up in Miamimaking 2026 College Football Playoff The national championship game is a homecoming for him.
Mendoza admitted he has “emotions” going into the home game, but is trying not to let them affect him. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner said he’s trying see the game from a different perspective to be removed from the microscope.
“This game means a lot to me,” Mendoza told the Big Ten Network. “We’re playing the University of Miami in Miami. So there could be a lot of emotion. My perspective has always been to expand it and understand how much this means to all my teammates, all my coaches, not just me. It means so much, the National Championship Game, that I’m doing everything possible to prepare because I owe it to my teammates and my teammates, Hoos Nai.”
Fernando Mendoza gets it 👏#NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/g4E7DIJUGD
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) January 17, 2026
Mendoza starred at Christopher Columbus High School, which is about 15 minutes from the University of Miami campus. A three-star recruit, he didn’t get enough attention to fall on the Hurricanes’ radar and decided to fly across the country to start his career at Cal.
Mendoza’s family is rooted in Miami, where they are expected to have a large support group on Monday. In a widely reported story, the Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal played high school football with Mendoza’s fatherFernando Mendoza Sr.
The Mendoza family will be well represented at Hard Rock Stadium, but the crowd will still heavily favor Miami. The Hurricanes are looking to become the first team to win a national championship at home.
2026-01-17 22:33:00
