The Indiana Hoosiers will begin their College Football Playoff journey against the Alabama Crimson Tide on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl. Moreover, if the Hoosiers want to get past the SEC powerhouse, they will lean on the Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza had a passer rating of 181.4 with 2,980 yards, 33 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 13 games this season for Indiana, per StatMuse. As a result, the Alabama defense will need to contain him to advance to the semifinals.
On December 30, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer spoke candidly about Mendoza and what makes him an exceptional talent that worries his defensive unit.
“From a Mendoza standpoint, he’s just super consistent all year long,” DeBoer told the Big Ten Network. “It doesn’t matter. You’re playing a team that you should dominate or a team at the Big Ten Championship. He’s just been steady, and he’s got that trust and belief in his teammates.
“You can see it and they do a good job protecting him. They do a good job of making plays. So a lot of it is on the quarterback and the energy that they bring, the confidence they exude. But the guys making plays around both of them have led to their success as well.”
Alabama are coming into this game riding positive momentum after beating the Oklahoma Sooners in the College Football Playoff to reach the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Indiana defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes to win the Big Ten Championship Game, so both teams are likely feeling good about themselves before kickoff at the Rose Bowl.
Kalen DeBoer Talks Alabama QB Ty Simpson
While Mendoza will get the spotlight in this game against Alabama, the Crimson Tide have faith in their signal caller, Ty Simpson. DeBoer noted that Simpson is ready for this pressure moment, but it will take a team effort to beat Indiana.
“With Ty, it’s, to me, the confidence that he’s playing with right now,” DeBoer added. “I think it’s a trust that getting his guys back around him a little bit, a little healthier, guys making some plays. They made a bunch of 50-50 catches for him at Oklahoma, but keeping him protected.
“The run game, I still feel like we’re just that close to having a game in a big moment where it makes a difference. So everyone’s got to work together. That’s what football is, a team sport and your trigger man is obviously where it all starts.”
Raiders Could Be Watching Fernando Mendoza Closely
Nonetheless, all eyes are on Mendoza from an NFL perspective as the potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. Moreover, should the Las Vegas Raiders hold onto their top spot heading into Week 18, CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco believes the Silver and Black intend to select the Indiana star.
“They are thrilled today that they have the No. 1 overall pick,” Prisco said on the December 28 edition of “CBS Sports HQ.” “They sat Maxx Crosby down. You think he wanted to play today? Of course he did. Why did you sit him down? You’re tanking. You want the No. 1 overall pick. Well, they got it. Right now, they have it.
“You think they’re going to beat the Chiefs next week? No matter what happens, they’re not beating the Chiefs. They want Fernando Mendoza. They’re going to get Fernando Mendoza. They’re going to have the No. 1 overall pick, and they’re going to cure their quarterback problem.”
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