5 months ago
NEWYou tin now perceive to Fox News articles!
The Indiana Hoosiers will play nan Alabama Crimson Tide successful nan quarterfinals of nan College Football Playoff connected New Year’s Day successful what whitethorn beryllium nan team’s biggest situation yet.
The Hoosiers solidified their spot successful nan Playoff earlier this period pinch a Big Ten Championship triumph complete nan Ohio State Buckeyes. It will only get much difficult from nan squad led by Heisman Trophy victor Fernando Mendoza from present connected out.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Indiana Hoosiers backmost Fernando Mendoza (15) and backmost Alberto Mendoza (16) locomotion connected section for lukewarm ups earlier nan 2025 Big Ten Championship Game against nan Ohio State Buckeyes astatine Lucas Oil Stadium connected Dec. 6, 2025. (Aaron Doster/Imagn Images)
Mendoza said he will clasp nan situation that nan Crimson Tide will provide. His comments connected nan Big Ten Network connected Tuesday suggested he has nan correct mindset to propulsion disconnected a win.
"I deliberation a connection we telephone encompassed is, ‘Pressure is simply a privilege.’ Although we’re nan No. 1 seed successful nan College Football Playoff, we person each these precocious expectations, it’s nan first clip Indiana has ever done this. At nan aforesaid time, we’re grateful and we want this opportunity. This is what we’ve been moving for nan full offseason.
2026 COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER: WHO ARE THE TOP NAMES EXPECTED TO ENTER?
Indiana Hoosiers caput coach Curt Cignetti looks connected earlier nan 2025 Big Ten Championship Game against nan Ohio State Buckeyes astatine Lucas Oil Stadium connected Dec. 6, 2025. (Robert Goddin/Imagn Images)
"It’s not for illustration we’re present to spell take sides something. We don’t person this triumph successful nan Rose Bowl. We don’t person nan nationalist championship. We don’t person a semifinal triumph yet. We don’t person nan Rose Bowl trophy, aliases we don’t person roses successful our rima yet. We gotta spell get it. We gotta spell return it – particularly against specified a awesome squad for illustration Alabama, an SEC juggernaut. We gotta spell return it. We’re very blessed and honored for nan opportunity. Like (coach Curt Cignetti said), it’s thing we’re going to retrieve for nan remainder of our lives, and though nan New York boys travel was a blast, I would opportunity we’ve each been moving very diligently because we each worked retired full lives for this infinitesimal and for this opportunity. As younger kids we dreamed astir this, arsenic older men, we’ll retrieve this."
The Hoosiers vanished undefeated successful nan regular play for nan first clip since 1945 erstwhile they were 9-0-1. The squad was classed No. 1 successful nan last Associated Press regular-season canvass for nan first clip ever.
A batch of it has to do pinch really Cignetti coached his squad during nan twelvemonth and really Mendoza stepped up successful games contempt costly turnovers.
Alabama Crimson Tide caput coach Kalen Deboer calls retired from nan sidelines successful nan first half against nan Oklahoma Sooners astatine Gaylord Family OK Memorial Stadium connected Dec. 19, 2025. (Nelson Chenault/Imagn Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Now, Indiana will surely get to beryllium whether they are true nationalist title contenders successful going up against a behemoth successful Alabama.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to nan Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Ryan Gaydos is simply a elder editor for Fox News Digital.
