Fernando Mendoza keeps breaking records, but refuses to break character.
Indiana’s star quarterback delivered another near-flawless performance in No. 2 IU’s 31–7 win over Wisconsin, going 22 of 24 for 299 yards and four touchdowns while setting the school’s single-season marks for passing yards and touchdown throws. Yet the moment the stat was mentioned, Mendoza brushed it aside.
“It feels great,” he said. “But it’s what a culmination of everything. All rushing success, passing success, and everything we’ve had this year. I mean, that’s not a player stat. It’s more of a team and passing stat. Think about all the receivers that we’ve spread the ball out to…all those guys are ballers.”
The same humility carried into the Heisman conversation. Mendoza was asked directly if he allows himself to think about it.
“Uh at this point, not really,” he said. “The most important thing for myself is winning the next game against Purdue, which is super important to everybody here in the state of Indiana and all Hoosier Nation…Then it’s win the next game after that and the next game after that. And if these awards end up happening, then great. It’s all good,” he said. “My goal is to win and go as far as we can… whatever it is, that’s my goal is to win games here.”
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Indiana’s ability to dominate second halves, something that’s become a trend during this 11–0 start, is something Mendoza attributes to the team’s identity. “Our superpower is the brotherhood,” he said. “We play for each other. There’s no ulterior motive.”
He lit up when discussing his younger brother Alberto completing his lone pass. “It was fantastic…being honest, him basically outperforming me in all these practices,” he joked.
And on senior day, Mendoza was emotional seeing his family in the stands. “It gave me an overwhelming sense of emotion…they’re my why.”
The Hoosiers now hit a bye week before the rivalry game that defines every season.
“We’ll look up at the end, see our stats. If they’re great, fantastic,” Mendoza said. “But no matter what, we got to prepare for Purdue.”
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