Catholic quarterback Fernando Mendoza gives glory to God after winning national championship

(LifeSiteNews) — After leading the Indiana Hoosiers to win its first ever national championship in college football, devout Catholic quarterback Fernando Mendoza repeatedly gave glory and thanks to God and credit to his teammates and coaching staff. 

Fernando Mendoza’s post-game interview after winning the National Championship. pic.twitter.com/ZSO81gr7cS

— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) January 20, 2026

“This season is the season I’ve gotten the closest, the most religious I’ve ever been. And I think it’s also reflected in the success, not just the success but also the platform to praise God and to praise Jesus Christ,” said Mendoza in a pregame interview. 

“And I would say this is a big part of myself and my identity,” he added.

Fernando Mendoza proudly honors his Catholic faith and thanks God for receiving the Heisman Trophy. On Christmas eve, he took brought it to church to celebrate with his local priests at the Indiana University’s Newman Center. pic.twitter.com/jdm5dGhV3X

— Catholics for Catholics 🇺🇲 (@CforCatholics) January 19, 2026

“No one is perfect. The only person I think is perfect is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” declared Mendoza in the interview. “I have a lot of flaws!”

No one is perfect. The only person I think is perfect is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ — Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza pic.twitter.com/iYSvae742Z

— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) January 19, 2026

“I’m a Catholic, I’m a Catholic man,” said the 22-year-old. The Catholic priests at Indiana University “have done so much to help me: whether it’s Confession, or just being able to talk, or Mass every Sunday.”

“I really give a lot that I have accomplished this season in my life to the Lord. I really give thanks to God.”

He explained why he made it a point to share his Heisman Trophy with the priests at his campus parish on Christmas Eve, fresh off his win: “It was really important to take [the trophy] over to those guys, especially those guys who have been great religious mentors to myself.”

POWERFUL: Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza on why he took the trophy to the priests & celebrated his accomplishment with them.

“I’m a Catholic, I’m a Catholic man”

“I really give a lot that I have accomplished this season in my life to the Lord”

🙏pic.twitter.com/HNk2q0ie2O https://t.co/byIUZbdpY4

— MLFootball (@MLFootball) January 19, 2026

No one has summed up what college football fans witnessed last night in Miami better than Tony Castricone, broadcast director for the University of Washington Huskies.

A 2-star QB scrambling for potentially the national-championship-winning touchdown on 4th down in his hometown against his hometown team after winning the Heisman for the most losing program of all time while his mother with MS screams for joy from her seat is possibly the limit of how good sports can get.

“Hollywood writers would get fired for pitching this script because its too unrealistic,” offered X user Oryon. 

hollywood writers would get fired for pitching this script because its too unrealistic

— Oryon (@Oryonfinance) January 20, 2026

In what has been hailed as “the play of a lifetime,” slow motion and still camera shots of Mendoza’s touchdown turned into an iconic image for the ages. 

“You will see this slow-mo of Fernando Mendoza flying 5,000 times in your lifetime,” said John Frascella, NFL writer and college football analyst.  

“This is the type of dramatic run you see in a movie not an actual game. we’re gonna be seeing this mendoza touchdown for the next 100 years,” predicted X user Correlation.

this the type of dramatic run you see in a movie not an actual game. we’re gonna be seeing this mendoza td for the next 100 years pic.twitter.com/NhJX3KW9kt

— correlation (@nosyone4) January 20, 2026

After the game, Mendoza shared a beautiful, tearful moment with his wheelchair-bound mother who is battling multiple sclerosis (MS).

🚨🚨BEAUTIFUL MOMENT🚨🚨

INDIANA QB FERNANDO MENDOZA AND HIS MOTHER WERE EMOTIONAL IN TEARS HUGGING AFTER HE WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

🥹🥹🥹

Mendoza’s mother is currently battling MS and for many years drove into every single practice game.
pic.twitter.com/fOwXaN9lJL

— MLFootball (@MLFootball) January 20, 2026

“Mendoza’s spirituality is woven into everything. He prays the Rosary every Friday, listens to online Mass before games, and avoids hype music to stay grounded,” according to his Heisman.com biography.