Curt Cignetti on the Fernando Mendoza Heisman case

ByNBAUSA



Head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers Curt Cignetti he didn’t hold back when discussing his star general Fernando Mendoza‘s Heisman Trophy chances that follow Victory no. 2 Indiana 13-10 over Ryan Day’s #1 Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship.

The victory at Lucas Oil Stadium not only secured the Hoosiers’ first outright Big Ten title since 1945, but also kept their undefeated season alive and solidified Mendoza’s case as one of the most influential players in sports.

Cignetti joined FOX’s postgame show shortly after the program-defining win. When asked directly if a quarterback should win college football’s most prestigious award, Cignetti said one of his most honest responses of the season. The head coach made it clear how strongly he believes in his quarterback’s resume.

“I’m not voting for the Heisman. It’s a great award, I know, it’s like somebody put a gun to my head and said, I’ve got to vote the right way. OK. You’re catching this bullet. I think it’s pretty insignificant,” Cignetti said via FOX CFB.

Indiana’s defense frustrated the Buckeyes in the championship game, however, the junior signal-caller Mendoza made the biggest throw of his college career. With Indiana clinging to a 13-10 lead and facing a critical third-and-6 with 2:40 remaining, Mendoza stayed calm, dropped back, and smashed a 30-yard shot to Charlie Becker.

Becker was elevated for a 33-yard completion that reversed field position, ran out the clock and left Ohio State with no timeouts and little hope. By the time the Buckeyes got the ball again, there were only 13 seconds left, nowhere near enough for a comeback.

That streak became the centerpiece of Indiana’s championship moment and the backbone of Mendoza’s Heisman narrative. Mendoza went into the night finishing 72% of his passes with 32 touchdowns and just five interceptions, per ESPN.

He added 222 yards, a touchdown and one pick against the Buckeyes, not a statistical explosion but a performance defined by holding on to pressure and one rare throw the quarterback made against defending champion Ohio State — the game-winner.

For an undefeated team now positioned to claim the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, Mendoza’s Heisman case may be stronger than ever. And if he continues to produce in the postseason the way he did Saturday night, Indiana’s magical run may be far from over.





2025-12-07 13:42:00

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