Fernando Mendoza goes viral after Rose Bowl win as Indiana’s dream season rolls on

Fernando Mendoza goes viral after Rose Bowl win as Indiana’s dream season rolls on originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Fernando Mendoza’s dominance didn’t stop when the Rose Bowl ended.

The Heisman Trophy winner became one of the most talked-about figures on college football social media following Indiana’s emphatic 38-3 win over Alabama, thanks to a viral postgame press conference that showcased leadership, humility and a clear message from the Hoosiers’ locker room.

Rather than focusing on his accomplishments, Mendoza credited his teammates and head coach Curt Cignetti for keeping the program locked in after a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.

The undefeated Indiana Hoosiers showed exactly that. Fresh off their first Big Ten championship since 1967, Indiana overwhelmed the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl, delivering one of the most one-sided postseason losses in Alabama history.

𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: Indiana superstar QB Fernando Mendoza's post-game interview after winning the Rose Bowl has gone viral 😭😭

One of the greatest interviews you will ever see.pic.twitter.com/shJnK5sTcB

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 2, 2026

Indiana led 17-0 at halftime and turned the College Football Playoff quarterfinal into a runaway. The Hoosiers recorded their seventh win of the season by at least 30 points and snapped a skid for teams coming off first-round byes, which were 0-6 in the new 12-team playoff format entering the game.

Mendoza efficiently directed an offense that capitalized on a suffocating defensive performance, repeatedly breaking through an aggressive Crimson Tide front. Indiana also scored its first Rose Bowl touchdown in program history, a milestone that symbolized how far the program has come.

Indiana advances to the semifinals to face the Oregon Ducks in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9.

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was limited to 67 passing yards before exiting with an injury. Backup Austin Mack led the Tide to their lone score, a field goal.

For Mendoza, the message was simple. The season’s success is rooted in accountability, not hype. Indiana isn’t finished yet. 

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