Fernando Mendoza saved his best for last. On Monday night, the Heisman-winning QB led Indiana past Miami, 27–21, in the CFP National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium. With history colliding with pressure, Mendoza never blinked, and the victory marked a full-circle moment for a former No. 2,149-ranked high school prospect who had once been overlooked.

“I was a two-star recruit coming out of high school, and was declined a walk-on offer at the University of Miami. Full-circle moment here, playing in Miami. Can’t thank coach Cignetti enough for taking the chance on me,” said Mendoza after the national title win.

While The Athletic’s Ira Gorawara shared Mendoza’s message on X, it only highlighted why he trusted his team so much.

Back home in Miami-Dade County, the IU star delivered a fourth-quarter moment fit for a legend. It was the kind of play that wins championships and fuels talk of a future No. 1 overall pick. Yet for the former two-star prospect out of Christopher Columbus High, Mendoza didn’t forget who believed first, giving credit to Curt Cignetti for helping turn potential into history.

In short, even though Fernando Mendoza became a superstar, he remembers his roots. And that, in turn, highlights the culture at Indiana, built by Cignetti.

But the IU head coach’s trust in Mendoza is paying off; against Miami, he delivered when it mattered most.

With Indiana closing the season with a 16–0 record and facing fourth down in Miami’s red zone with under 10 minutes left, Cignetti made a bold call. He pulled the field goal unit and put Mendoza back on the field. The Heisman winner took the snap, surged up the middle on a daring QB draw, absorbed brutal hits, and somehow stayed upright, spinning and diving into the end zone for the go-ahead score.

But out of high school, this star QB didn’t get noticed, despite having all the tools.

In over 17 high school games, Mendoza completed 107 of 169 passes for 1,169 yards, tossing 11 TDs against just four interceptions. However, he didn’t just pile up stats; he carried Columbus all the way to the FHSAA Class 8A State Championship game. Despite that, the hometown talent didn’t get an offer from Miami.

Now, playing against them, he showed exactly why Cignetti trusted him, driving home the sting of the Hurricanes’ loss.

For a player few saw coming, Mendoza’s journey was anything but ordinary.

From endless cold calls to coaches to six-hour drives for grueling workouts, Mendoza powered through punishing sessions under trainer Antonio Robinson, 15 straight 100-meter sprints with barely a pause, never flinching. Probably, that’s why Robinson recognized the talent early.

“He’s just built different. This kid’s going to play in the NFL,” said the trainer.

While at Christopher Columbus High, Mendoza combined fearless leadership with an arm that made defenses shake; by his senior year, his throws were surgical. Despite that, recruiting wasn’t easy, as COVID shut scouts out during his breakout junior season, so he went on a “camp-a-palooza,” hitting 18 camps in 25 days just to prove he belonged.

Now, after relentless hard work, the IU QB’s name is everywhere with a Heisman Trophy in hand and a National Title secured. Yet, his Miami roots run deep.

Fernando Mendoza’s Miami roots

Miami runs in Fernando Mendoza’s veins. On the Saturday night before the CFP National Championship, Coconut Grove lit up with Mendoza red as family and friends packed the streets.

Marta Mendoza, the QB’s grandmother, hugged relatives and watched cousins toss footballs while sporting red Indiana Hoosiers jerseys.

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“It is always fun seeing family, but also seeing everyone so excited about the game,” she said. “Everyone has someone to cheer for. It is very Miami.”

The Mendoza legacy stretches back generations, from Cuban immigrant roots to Miami high school football glory.

Fernando’s father and grandfather paved the way at Christopher Columbus High, a program steeped in tradition that also shaped Hurricanes legend Mario Cristobal.

“Whether it is Mario, or Fernando Sr., or both of his sons at Indiana, being from Miami is a connection,” said Cristobal’s former teammate Alex Mirabal. “When you tell someone you are from Miami and so are they, we just know, hey, our history is a little different.”

That history fuels Fernando’s fire, and he remembers trips to Cuba with his grandparents, seeing the struggles and beauty of their homeland. From Pedro Pan refugees to the Heisman Trophy winner, the story comes full circle.

In Coconut Grove, with the streets packed with family and fans, little brother Alberto summed it up, saying, “I guess if you are from Miami, then you can’t lose.”

Now, it’s celebration time for Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers.