Indiana's Fernando Mendoza left bloodied after huge hit from Miami defender

Indiana Hoosiers prima backmost Fernando Mendoza was connected the receiving extremity of a immense deed successful the archetypal 4th of the nationalist title crippled against the Miami Hurricanes connected Monday.

Mendoza handed the shot disconnected to his moving backmost and went up to Miami defenders, pretending to block. However, Mendoza spot disconnected a spot much than helium could chew.

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Indiana backmost Fernando Mendoza looks to walk against Miami during the archetypal fractional of the College Football Playoff nationalist title game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, successful Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Hurricanes antiaircraft backmost Jakobe Thomas met Mendoza and knocked the Heisman Trophy-winning backmost backward. Mendoza fell and the ESPN broadcast showed him bleeding from the lip.

College shot fans were wondering whether Thomas avoided a targeting punishment connected the play. It appeared Thomas deed Mendoza with the crown of his helmet. The officiating unit connected the tract didn’t drawback it and the thrust continued.

TRUMP ARRIVES AT INDIANA-MIAMI COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Indiana backmost Fernando Mendoza passes against Miami during the archetypal fractional of the College Football Playoff nationalist title game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, successful Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Mendoza is accustomed to taking immoderate large hits. He took a immense deed earlier successful the play against Iowa and was leveled connected the archetypal play of the crippled against Ohio State. He stayed successful the crippled some times and the Hoosiers won.

Indiana’s scoring began aboriginal successful the archetypal 4th with a tract goal. Then, with astir 6:13 near successful the 2nd quarter, Mendoza led the Hoosiers down the tract and handed the shot disconnected to Riley Nowakowski to punch the shot in. The Hoosiers held a 10-0 pb astatine that point.

Indiana takes the tract against Miami earlier the College Football Playoff nationalist title crippled betwixt Miami and Indiana, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, successful Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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If the people holds, Indiana volition beryllium celebrating its archetypal assemblage shot nationalist championship.

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