As Indiana’s offensive line finally returns to full strength, the real test begins not in the trenches, but for the Heisman-winning quarterback they protect. Fernando Mendoza and the O-line were left banged up. Now, days later, offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan says the trenches are cleared, healed, and back to full throttle. 

“Feel good with all those guys that have been in there playing,” said Shanahan in his latest presser on December 27. “Obviously, some injuries had led to that shuffle. But now that we’re back to basically full strength. Have a lot of confidence in that group as a whole.”

Cignetti and his boys sealed the 31-7 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers in November, but they did it without their most impactful players. The list was quite long, featuring Drew Evans, EJ Williams Jr., and Elijah Sarratt among others. The Big Ten Championship only compounded Indiana’s injury problems. 

Notably, Mendoza was greeted rudely on the very first snap, absorbing a crushing hit from Ohio State Buckeyes’ Caden Curry to his right throwing shoulder. He briefly exited before returning. But a later interception hinted that the shoulder wasn’t quite right. Despite returning to the game, Mendoza continued to move his arm in circles, attempting to alleviate the lingering pain.

Cignetti’s wide receiver, Omar Cooper Jr., was cut short after a leg injury forced the starting wide receiver out in the first half of the Big Ten Championship. He didn’t return, though he was back on the field postgame, celebrating with teammates while visibly limping.

Indiana punched its ticket to the CFP quarterfinals on December 6, edging out Ohio State 13-10 for the top seed and the Big Ten crown. With a long layover before their New Year’s Day clash with the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl, Cignetti’s offensive lineman, Carter Smith, says the Hoosiers are dialing in the sweet spot. They are maintaining the intensity in practice without overexerting the squad.

“It’s all about keeping the speed of the game,” said Smith. “The biggest thing for us in the offensive line room has been going like it’s a game, every single breath, because we know that being away from the game for so long can affect that.”

The Hoosiers are riding high with Shanahan, too. Cignetti locked in his offensive coordinator, as Shanahan signed a fresh three-year deal in Bloomington. After following Cignetti from James Madison in 2023, Shanahan’s offense has kept the scoring torch burning.

Indiana dropped 41.3 points per game last season (second nationally) and is lighting it up again this year at 44.3 points per game through 13 games, sitting fourth in the nation. Now that the O-line is at full strength, Indiana enters the Rose Bowl with a built-in advantage over Alabama.

“Bama can’t rush the passer. It’s a big problem,” said Geoff Schwartz on the December 22nd episode of the Bear Bets podcast.

When it comes to throwing touchdowns, Mendoza has the upper hand on Alabama’s Ty Simpson, 33 to 28. Yet, Cignetti’s quarterback might have to prove himself a lot harder, even after bagging the Heisman. 

Postseason report cards humbled Curt Cignetti’s quarterback

The postseason is here, and so are the final report cards. The Buckeye Nut dropped PFF’s list of “highest-graded quarterbacks | cfp quarterfinals.” In that list, Mendoza had slipped to the No.3 spot with a 90.5 score.

Before him is Oregon Ducks’ Dante Moore at 92.1, and at the top of the list is Ohio State’s Julian Sayin with a 92.9 score. But what is the issue with Cignetti’s quarterback that Sayin doesn’t have?

Indiana’s control-heavy offense dominated Mendoza’s Heisman hype. Mendoza did not have much of a chance to shine. He’s efficient, mixes in the run, but even lighting up the Oregon Ducks with 30 points didn’t scream Heisman. Meanwhile, Sayin has quietly stacked a season-long resume of highlight-worthy performances.

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The effect of sliding down has a lasting impact. Being the Heisman winner, Cignetti’s quarterback might have already reserved himself a spot as the No.1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But Mel Kiper rained on their parade by picking Moore as the top pick in his NFL draft Big Board rankings.

Fernando Mendoza’s trust bank is running low. Now he faces Alabama with a fully fit offensive line. Can Curt Cignetti’s fully healthy O-line be the boost he needs?