Fernando Mendoza and Indiana capitalized on a pivotal 4th down with 9:27 left in the game to take control of the game, and gut out the 27-21 win at Hard rock stadium in Miami. 

The game started off hot with Indiana kicking a 34 yard fieldgoal from Nico Radicic 2:42 into the game. That brought the score to 3-0 Indiana.  Next Indiana’s Riley Nowakowski punched in a 1 yard goal line touchdown to score 6:13 into the game. 10-0 Indiana

3:54 out of the halftime, Mark Fletcher Jr goes 57 yards for the score for Miami. Now they were at 10-7 Indiana.

With 5:04 left in the 3rd quarter Indiana gets a game changing play after they block a punt and take it all the way into the endzone making the score. 17-7 Indiana.  Mark Fletcher Jr. ran in a 3 yard touchdown, 3 seconds into the 4th quarter. Indiana takes the lead with a score of 17-14. 

Then the play of the game happened.  Fernando Mendoza took a QB draw 12 yards into the end zone on the 4th down 5:32 into the 4th quarter. 24-14 Indiana. 

Miami scored a pitiful 22 yard touchdown from Carson Beck to Malachi Toney with 6:37 left to make the score 24-21.

Indiana iced the game with a 35 yard field goal with 1:42 left to extend the lead 27-21.

For Indiana university this is more than a football national championship win. This win showed everyone they’re not just a basketball school and they compete in a high level of football. The team also famously had 0, 5 star recruits and heavily relies on their coach who famously said when he took the job to coach the hoosiers “google me I win”. 

The play of the game came from Fernando Mendoza on 4th and 5 with 9 minutes and 27 seconds left, Mendoza took a QB draw 12 yards to the endzone to secure the win and ice the game. Mendoza isnt known to be a runner but when needed, he delivered.