Fernando Mendoza Hypes Indiana's 'Misfits,' Talks Playing CFP Final vs. Miami at Hard Rock Stadium

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is excited to make what he described as his "homecoming" by playing Miami for the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium.

"I think playing any national championship is fantastic, and it means a litlte bit more to me," Mendoza told ESPN after Indiana's Friday night Peach Bowl win over Oregon. "I used to be able to walk to the University of Miami, used to play rec basketball games there, or beach volleyball on the sand courts. To live under a mile away, it means a lot to myself.

"But really excited for the city of Miami to get the opportunity as well. Just can't wait to play in Hard Rock Stadium."

Mendoza went on to reference a pregame speech made by Indiana offensive lineman Pat Coogan earlier in the Hoosiers' undefeated season.

"Like Pat Coogan said, we're a bunch of misfits," Mendoza said. "There's zero five-stars on our team. We're just a bunch of gritty guys who are glued together and going towards a common goal, which is to win every each and single game."

Mendoza recorded five touchdowns Friday night to help Indiana clinch a 56-22 win over Oregon in the CFP semifinal.

Mendoza first referenced the "bunch of misfits" quote back in November, when he told reporters what Coogan had said ahead of a blowout win over Purdue (h/t Michael Niziolek of the Indianapolis Star).

"He's like look at us, a bunch of misfits, guys from FCS, G5, JMU coming up, bunch of transfers, bunch of rejects that got replaced at their old school coming to Indiana, now we have a chance to go 12-0," Mendoza said at the time, per Niziolek.

A month and a half later, the Hoosiers could clinch the first 16-0 season this century with a championship game win over Miami.

Mendoza played high school football for Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, where he led his team to a state championship game in 2021.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal attended the same high school and played high school football with Mendoza's father.

After leaving Columbus, Mendoza started out his college career at Cal as a consensus three-star prospect, per 247Sports.

Mendoza then transferred to Indiana ahead of the 2025 season, during which he has helped Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers orchestrate a rapid turnaround from the program's 3-9 record in 2023.

The Hoosiers quarterback could potentially raise his draft stock even further with a national title win. Mendoza is already projected to go to the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 pick in Bleacher Report's latest 2026 NFL mock draft.

Indiana and Miami are set to play for the national title when the CFP championship game kicks off on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET.