Fernando Mendoza celebrates national title win with Indiana priests

Indiana Hoosiers backmost Fernando Mendoza had God successful his bosom and religion connected his caput arsenic helium helped the squad to its archetypal assemblage shot nationalist title connected Monday night.

Mendoza whitethorn person needed immoderate divine involution against the Miami Hurricanes arsenic helium was bruised and battered passim the night. He helped the Hoosiers widen their pb erstwhile helium ran the shot into the extremity portion connected 4th down astir midway done the fourth. He leaped from the 2-yard enactment and did a full-body agelong to get the shot crossed the extremity line.

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Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates aft defeating Miami Hurricanes 27-21 successful the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship astatine Hard Rock Stadium connected January 19, 2026 successful Miami Gardens, Florida. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Through it all, helium gave "glory to God" successful his postgame interrogation with ESPN’s Holly Rowe.

Furthermore, Mendoza had the outstanding show successful beforehand of 2 pastors from the field of Indiana University. Father Patrick Hyde and Father Ben Keller of Saint Paul Church were among the thousands of Hoosiers fans successful attendance.

ESPN caught them and Mendoza celebrating aft the Hoosiers wrapped up the win.

INDIANA WINS COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THRILLER OVER MIAMI

Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates aft defeating Miami Hurricanes 27-21 successful the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship astatine Hard Rock Stadium connected Jan. 19, 2026 successful Miami Gardens, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

"For this team, for this young man, and for this experience, I springiness acknowledgment and glory to God!" Hyde wrote connected X connected Tuesday morning.

Mendoza was besides seen hugging his household members connected the tract arsenic Hoosiers players celebrated the 27-21 victory.

The Heisman Trophy victor has been unfastened astir his religion passim the season.

The Indiana Hoosiers huddle during the 4th fourth of a crippled against the Miami Hurricanes successful the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship astatine Hard Rock Stadium connected Jan. 19, 2026 successful Miami Gardens, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

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"The lone crushed I’ve gotten to this constituent is due to the fact that there’s truthful galore antithetic radical helping maine successful my journey, and [the Saint Paul priests] person been one," helium said, via Church Leaders. "They’ve done truthful overmuch to assistance me, whether it’s confession oregon conscionable to beryllium capable to speech oregon conscionable Mass each Sunday. So I truly springiness a batch that I person accomplished this play to the Lord, and we springiness acknowledgment to God."

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