- - Fernando Mendoza scores TD on fourth-down scramble in national championship

John Leuzzi, USA TODAY January 20, 2026 at 4:58 AM

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Fernando Mendoza scores TD on fourth-down scramble in national championship

Editor's Note: Indiana is playing Miami football in the CFP national championship game. Follow live updates here.

If Indiana football can pull out the win in the College Football Playoff national championship game, it will be because of the aggression from Curt Cignetti to go for it on fourth down in the fourth quarter... twice.

Following a timeout to mull over the decision with a three-point lead, Cignetti sent the offense back out on the field, and did it ever work out in the Hoosiers' favor. Their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, bulldozed his way to the end zone for a 12-yard rushing touchdown.

The gusty touchdown call pushed the Hoosiers' lead back up to a 10-point game with just over nine minutes remaining at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

FERNANDO. MENDOZA.THE PLAY OF A LIFETIME ‼️ pic.twitter.com/g3o5nNNslr

— ESPN (@espn) January 20, 2026

REQUIRED READING: Indiana vs Miami score: College football national championship live updates, highlights

"That's why he won the Heisman Trophy," ESPN's Chris Fowler said on the broadcast at the end of the touchdown call.

Added Kirk Herbstreit: "What a call from Curt Cignetti and the offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan."

It was the second fourth-down conversion that the Hoosiers were able to convert on their first scoring drive since the second quarter, as Mendoza connected with Charlie Becker for a ridiculous catch as he fell backwards on the field along the sidelines.

Mendoza's rushing score was just his seventh on the ground this season for the Miami native. It also got a heartwarming reaction from his mom, Elsa — who is battling multiple sclerosis — from the stands with the rest of the Mendoza family.

The Hurricanes responded to Mendoza's touchdown with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Carson Beck to Malachi Toney, bringing the score back to a one-possession game at 24-21 with 6:37 remaining in the fourth quarter.

1 / 11Fernando Mendoza has Heisman moment with fourth-down TD vs. MiamiFernando Mendoza rushes for a fourth quarter touchdown against Miami.

If Mendoza and Indiana can pull out the win over Miami, the Hoosiers will win their first-ever national championship in program history. It would also give the Big Ten their third consecutive CFP championship, with the last two coming from Michigan and Ohio State.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch Fernando Mendoza's incredible fourth-down scramble for TD

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