With a 7-0 record, the Indiana Hoosiers are riding high as they welcome a resurgent UCLA Bruins team that has won three straight — all against Big Ten opponents. After parting ways with their head coach and both coordinators, UCLA seems to have found new life under its refreshed leadership. But on the other sideline, Indiana boasts one of the nation’s hottest quarterbacks, Fernando Mendoza, whose Heisman-level performances have powered the Hoosiers’ undefeated run. With all the buzz surrounding this matchup, it’s no surprise Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff is in Bloomington for Saturday’s showdown.
Mendoza has been nothing short of spectacular this season. Through seven games, he’s thrown for 1,755 yards while completing 73.5% of his passes, tallying 21 touchdowns against just two interceptions. He’s also added 151 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. His 21 touchdown passes tie him for the most in college football — alongside Sawyer Robertson and Josh Hoover. Mendoza’s poise, precision, and ability to create outside the pocket have turned heads across the country, including those of the Big Noon Kickoff crew, who praised his command and decision-making during a media session Friday afternoon.
“He’s decisive with the football,” former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn said about Mendoza. “The easiest way to be able to see how they execute at such a high level, is when they’re working through the progressions, they’re making the reads, they’re decisive. There’s no hesitation.”
Mendoza’s growth this season has been nothing short of remarkable. His decision-making and ability to dissect defenses at a high level stand out, paired with a strong arm and steady pocket presence. While he’s been dominant in conference play, his season didn’t start off quite as smoothly.
In Week 1 against Old Dominion, Mendoza looked like a quarterback still settling into a new system. His footwork appeared rushed, and the rhythm wasn’t quite there. He finished with a season-low 193 passing yards, completing 18 of 31 attempts (58.1%) with no passing touchdowns — his only game this year without one. Still, he showcased his athleticism by running for a season-high 33 yards and a touchdown.
Since that opening week, however, Mendoza has looked like a completely different player. He is averaging 260 yards a game and has completed an impressive 76.7% of his passes over that span — numbers that reflect both confidence and control.
“It’s them feeling confident in the plan and then playing decisively in that manner,” Quinn said. “So that’s what I see from him, he knows where he’s going with the football. He’s delivering an accurate throw that’s going to be a run after catch. And that’s a huge piece of why they’ve been so successful.”
Quinn, who knows elite quarterback play firsthand, recognizes the qualities that separate good from great. A two-time Heisman finalist at Notre Dame (2005, 2006), the 2006 Maxwell and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner, and a former first-round NFL draft pick, Quinn sees the same poise and precision in Mendoza that defined his own college career. He believes Mendoza could very well find himself among the few players invited to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony in December.
Mark Ingram — the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner and a player once recruited by Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti during his Alabama days — echoed that sentiment, praising Mendoza’s impact and consistency.
“You keep winning games, and you keep putting up good numbers, then at the end of the day, you’re going to be up for that [Heisman Award] conversation,” Ingram said Friday. “He’s done that. Indiana’s undefeated, won in Oregon, [they] probably have one of the most impressive wins in college football this season, and he’s done a great job of just putting up the numbers and putting his team in position to win games.”
Indiana’s statement win over then–No. 3 Oregon may have been the defining moment of its season so far. The Hoosiers didn’t just beat the Ducks — they snapped the nation’s longest active home winning streak with a double-digit victory in Eugene. That performance showed exactly what makes Fernando Mendoza special: his composure, leadership, and ability to rally his team when it matters most. He’s made several NFL-caliber throws against tough Big Ten opponents, proving he’s more than just a breakout story — he’s one of the most impressive players in college football this year.
But elite play brings its own challenges. As Mendoza’s star continues to rise, so does the spotlight. The Heisman conversation now follows him everywhere, and with it comes a new level of pressure. This week, Mendoza sat down with Big Noon Kickoff analyst Matt Leinart — a man who knows a thing or two about managing expectations.
During his storied career at USC, Leinart won the Heisman Trophy in 2004 and was a finalist again in 2005. On Friday, he shared the advice he recently gave Mendoza after their interview earlier in the week.
“I actually talked to Fernando this week,” Leinart stated. “We texted, and he asked about the Heisman — how do you handle all that, how do you balance it? And I just said, ‘Dude, just focus one game at a time that, one play at a time. Don’t worry about all that stuff.’”
That advice couldn’t be more timely. For Mendoza, the key to maintaining his dominance is keeping his focus in the moment — one drive, one snap, one decision at a time. The Hoosiers’ matchup against UCLA is the next challenge, and for an undefeated team with championship aspirations, the next game is always the most important one.
With the way Indiana — and Mendoza in particular — have been playing, Matt Leinart believes the Hoosiers are destined for a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game, a stage that could ultimately decide the Heisman race.
“If they continue to do what they’re doing, which I imagine they will, they’re probably going to play Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game,” Leinart said. “That’s the stage that’s set for him to win the Heisman Trophy.”
Of course, there’s still plenty of football left to be played, and the Hoosiers know better than to look too far ahead. But if Indiana does make it to Indianapolis, Mendoza will have the perfect opportunity to solidify his Heisman résumé under the brightest lights.
For now, it’s all about the next challenge. The No. 2 Hoosiers will take the field against UCLA in Bloomington on Saturday (Oct. 25) at noon, with Big Noon Kickoff broadcasting live. Once again, the nation will be watching — and once again, Fernando Mendoza will have the chance to show why he’s one of college football’s brightest stars.