Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza cruised to a decisive Heisman Trophy victory Saturday night, but not everyone was sold on his candidacy.
Former FOX Sports commentator Skip Bayless questioned the selection on social media, arguing that Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was more deserving despite finishing second in the voting.
Bayless congratulated Mendoza while suggesting Pavia’s on-field production outweighed any concerns about his demeanor.
Congrats to Fernando Mendoza ... nice memorized, rehearsed speech ... but Diego Pavia deserved this award for his performance on the field, even if his swagger and edge rubbed some voters and viewers the wrong way.
Mendoza won comfortably, earning 643 first-place votes to Pavia’s 189 and sweeping all six geographic voting regions. The fan vote went to Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
Bayless pointed to Pavia’s historic season at Vanderbilt, where he led the Commodores to 10 wins for the first time in program history. Pavia threw for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns and added 826 rushing yards and nine scores, following a seven-win campaign last season that included an upset of then-No. 1 Alabama.
Pavia lack of marquee victories this season was a reason for concern. Vanderbilt’s best win came against No. 25 Missouri, and Pavia threw six touchdowns and four interceptions against winning FBS teams as the Commodores missed the College Football Playoff.
As for Mendoza, he guided Indiana to an undefeated season and a No. 1 ranking. He passed for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns, rushed for six more scores and delivered signature performances in a comeback win over Penn State and an upset of Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game.
Mendoza’s resume leaned heavily on defense in key wins, but Heisman voters overwhelmingly backed his claim to college football’s top individual honor.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia issued a public apology Sunday after a social media post criticizing Heisman Trophy voters drew widespread attention following his second-place finish in the 2025 race.
Pavia finished runner-up to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza for college football’s most prestigious individual award. Shortly after the ceremony, Pavia posted an Instagram story that included the phrase “F-all the voters,” followed by a message about loyalty to family. The post quickly went viral, which didn't sit well with many supporters.
Pavia later addressed the situation in a statement on social media, calling his actions “disrespectful” and acknowledging he let emotions get the better of him.
“Being a part of the Heisman ceremony last night as a finalist was such an honor,” Pavia wrote. “As a competitor, just like in everything I do, I wanted to win. To be so close to my dream and come up short was painful. I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to.”
Pavia apologized directly to voters and praised his fellow finalists, including Mendoza, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin.
Being a part of the Heisman ceremony last night as a finalist was such an honor. As a competitor, just like in everything I do I wanted to win. To be so close to my dream and come up short was painful. I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the…
“Fernando Mendoza is an elite competitor and a deserving winner of the award,” Pavia wrote. “I have nothing but respect for his accomplishments.”
The graduate transfer also reflected on his path to success, citing years of doubt and the support of his family, teammates and coaches. He said he did not want the moment to distract from what Vanderbilt accomplished this season.
Pavia completed 71.2% of his passes for 3,192 yards and an SEC-leading 27 touchdowns during the regular season, while adding 826 rushing yards and nine scores. He led Vanderbilt to its first 10-win season and a second straight bowl appearance.
The Commodores will face Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31.
There is no question Jeremiah Smith is one of the best receivers in college football, but when it comes to the Biletnikoff Award, voters didn't think an 11-touchdown Ohio State sophomore season was enough to give him the award, and instead it went to USC Trojans star Makai Lemon.
Fox Sports' RJ Young, who has released weekly 24-team hypothetical College Football Playoff brackets to go alongside his team-specific power rankings, took issue with the decision.
"Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith has been robbed off of the Biletnikoff Award twice in two years," Young wrote on 'X.'
"So let me get this straight…Jeremiah Smith is the best wide receiver in the Big Ten, but Makai Lemon (also in the Big Ten) is the best wide receiver in the country? Make that make sense lol," Means tweeted.
It's a question that people are still trying to figure it out, but at the end of the day, Smith and Ohio State have a chance to prove the voters wrong if they can in fact when a national title again and do so with Smith playing at his best in the biggest games.
In a matter of a couple weeks, a lot of hard data will be available to either refute or prove the voters were justified in not giving Smith the award.
A season ago, McSorley was the assistant QB coach. His new role hasn't been announced.
McSorley, of course, was a fan favorite quarterback for the Nittany Lions. He's a smart guy to keep around. He knows how things are done at Penn State, and he has solid name value, too.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia expressed his frustration with the Heisman Trophy voting shortly after Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was named the 2025 winner Saturday night in New York.
In an Instagram story posted following the ceremony, Pavia wrote, “F-all the voters,” alongside a reposted image from comedian Theo Von. The post came after Pavia finished second in the Heisman balloting behind Mendoza.
The Commodores quarterback was on stage at the Lincoln Center alongside Mendoza, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin during the ceremony.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia with some choice words after finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting 😳
Mendoza received 643 first-place votes and 2,362 total points to win the award. Pavia finished second with 1,435 points and 189 first-place votes, followed by Love (719 points) and Sayin (432).
Despite the runner-up finish, Pavia delivered one of the most productive seasons in Vanderbilt history. The dual-threat quarterback threw for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns while rushing for 826 yards and nine scores. His 4,018 total yards of offense and 36 combined touchdowns both led the Southeastern Conference.
Vanderbilt, under coach Clark Lea, reached the 10-win mark in the regular season and remained in the College Football Playoff conversation late into the year, which is a significant step forward for a program long absent from the national spotlight.
With his college eligibility exhausted, Pavia is preparing for the next phase of his football career. However, he said Saturday he plans to play one final game for Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Iowa on New Year’s Eve.
Indiana enters the College Football Playoff at 13-0 behind Mendoza, the program’s first Heisman winner, after capturing its first outright conference title since 1945.
Jeff Monken paused more than once Saturday night, searching for language that could match the weight of what had just happened.
Army had fought Navy for four quarters. It had led late. It had chances. And yet, when the clock hit zero, the Black Knights walked off the field with a 17–16 loss that will linger far beyond December.
“It’s a little difficult to put into words, the pain of that loss,” Monken said during his postgame press conference. “I felt terrible for our team, our players, our seniors. Such a hard-fought game by both teams.”
Army moved the ball effectively in the first half, but settled for a critical short field goal inside the five yard line. Monken said afterward the missed opportunity loomed large.
“In this game, we talked about it, about the importance of getting seven points and not settling for three. Just disappointing.”
The second half told a different story. Army’s offense stalled, struggling to sustain blocks and generate rhythm. A critical interception turned into Navy’s final touchdown, a sequence Monken said changed everything.
“He (Cale Hellums) really needed to just step up in the pocket and throw it to Brady (Anderson),” Monken said. “He was open. And he just, for whatever reason, got antsy.”
Despite the offensive struggles, Army’s defense delivered one of its strongest performances of the season, holding Navy to 17 points and creating pressure throughout the night.
“I felt like they played well, played hard, gave us a chance to win,” Monken said.
The loss cut deeper because of what the game represents.
“It’s a 365-day-a-year rivalry, and it all culminates on one day,” Monken said. “You just give it everything you’ve got.”
Army did. It just did not make enough plays.
And that, Monken admitted quietly, is the part that hurts the most.
The Heisman Trophy presentation brings together the best of college football with the backdrop of lower Manhattan in the heart of New York City. There is a special feeling that comes with covering the events of the weekend.
As a Heisman voter over the past eleven years, there hasn't been a dull moment. I was asked this week by Texas Tech alum Stacy Gibson, "What exactly is the criteria for voting?"
Great question, and the answer is simple: A player who exemplifies the best of college football both on and off the field—one who is a game-changer and has the ability to lift a team up when needed. They are also a steward of the game, and the winner moves on to be part of the sport’s highest fraternity.
Here's how I voted for this year's finalists.
My third-place vote went to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. The gunslinger helped guide the Commodores to a record-setting 10-2 record this season and put on a show in the process. As a dual-threat, there's no shortage of highlights to be had from the New Mexico State transfer.
What Pavia did against top opponents was a major reason he was in my top three. The SEC is best-on-best every single week, and there's no doubt Pavia is featured in that category. To account for over 4,000 yards and 36 touchdowns is not an easy feat.
My second-place vote went to Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin. To take over an offensive unit that won a national championship and lead them to a 12-0 undefeated regular season without skipping a beat was phenomenal. To do that while completing nearly 80 percent of all passes is absurd.
Sayin earned his spot for continuing to shine when top receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate were out. His 3,323 yards and 31 touchdowns, along with having single-digit incompletions in every game, is unheard of in the modern era. He averaged 5.9 incompletions per game this season. That's pretty consistent for a quarterback.
My top Heisman pick for this year was Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Every time the Hoosiers needed a spark, the Cal transfer was the one to make it happen. He'll be remembered for his touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to Omar Cooper Jr. against Penn State. But there were other highlights along the way, such as the Big Ten Championship game and making history.
There was definitely a case for all four finalists and even Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez. Every player in the top ten of voting was special, but Mendoza leading Indiana to history was unforgettable.
This year's College Football Playoff will be great to watch with another champion getting put in the books under the 12-team format.
The road to the 2025 Heisman Trophy was a winding one, with preseason favorites struggling and new contenders exiting the race as quickly as they entered, but one player refused to waver.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza placed himself in the upper echelon of Heisman contenders in the opening weeks of the season and never moved, as the Hoosiers knocked off every team in their path on the way to a surprise Big Ten championship.
Early on, it looked as though Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore might compete for college football’s prestigious award. Then came Alabama’s Ty Simpson. After Simpson slipped up, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin asserted himself and briefly became the favorite in some eyes. By Saturday’s ceremony, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia was seen as Mendoza’s top challenger.
Ultimately, the award went to the Cal Berkeley transfer who helped turn Indiana from a feel-good story into a legitimate national championship contender.
Here's a closer look at why Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy.
It's no secret there were not many truly dominant players in college football this season. Sometimes, that's just the way it shakes out. Mendoza may not have gaudy stats that rival some of the great Heisman Trophy seasons in recent memory, but he checked every box, between the numbers, consistency, winning, eye test and clutch moments.
The numbers checked out. Mendoza was not a high-volume passer, finishing with fewer passing yards than Sayin and Pavia, but that was more the result of Indiana's gameplan and tendency to jump out to sizable leads. Mendoza's 9.4 yards per attempt led all Power Four starting quarterbacks, and his 33 touchdown passes led all FBS quarterbacks, all while tossing only six interceptions and completing more than 71 percent of pass attempts. Mendoza also had six rushing touchdowns that Sayin didn't.
Voters can't just blindly follow the numbers. Did Mendoza pass the eye test? How much was he a product of his situation? By all estimations, Mendoza passed the eye test. He flashed remarkable accuracy all season long, showed a willingness to throw downfield and do it well and consistently delivered in the biggest moments.
Mendoza's win-sealing pass to Charlie Becker in the Big Ten championship was labeled as his "Heisman moment," but the real moment likely came against Penn State, when he hit Omar Cooper Jr. for an unbelievable go-ahead touchdown in the final minute to keep the Hoosiers' unbeaten season alive. While Sayin's stats rivaled Mendoza's, you would be hard-pressed to find a moment like that, even if Ohio State's dominance was partly the reason.
The Heisman Trophy shouldn't automatically go to the best player on the best team. In recent years, it hasn't — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Travis Hunter all won the award after losing multiple games. Pavia had a chance, too, but quiet performances against Missouri, Alabama and LSU were tough to overcome without a College Football Playoff appearance to his name.
Mendoza didn't win the Heisman because he and Indiana beat Ohio State, but outdueling Sayin head-to-head confirmed for many voters that Mendoza had checked every box needed to be checked to claim the most prestigious honor in college football.
Here is a look at how Mendoza's stats compared to Pavia and Sayin this season. Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
Mendoza made history as the first player in Indiana history to win the Heisman Trophy, adding another layer onto the best season the program has ever had.
The regular season is over. Now, it's time for college football teams to go bowling.
There are 36 standalone bowl games and 11 College Football Playoff games on the 2025-26 schedule, giving fans plenty of entertainment over the next month.
Bowl season will begin with the Celebration Bowl and LA Bowl on Dec. 13. The CFP will once again follow the 12-team format, starting with first-round games on Dec. 19 and 20 and concluding with the national championship game on Jan. 19.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2025-26 college football bowl schedule, including TV and streaming options for each game.
College football bowl games will be spread across multiple networks, including ABC, CBS, ESPN and Fox. Cord-cutters can stream nearly all of this season's bowl games on Fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Nebraska Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule just lets his opinion fly when it comes to most aspects of college football.
The same can be said for the College Football Playoff, a highly-debated system that can be tweaked as it continues to evolve.
Rhule appears to be one of those supporters.
"Obviously, when I was at Temple, I would have argued the other way,” Rhule said, per KETV. “Now that I’m in the Big Ten, though. It’s not even the games you win and lose in the Big Ten. It’s the toll it takes on your team to play in the SEC and Big Ten. We play nine conference Big Ten games and travel all across the country. As a result, we only have three teams in."
“It’s almost like ‘Why are you going through the gauntlet of playing in the Big Ten and SEC?’ I watch the tape and I’m studying other conferences all the time," Rhule said. "The SEC and the Big Ten, in my opinion, are just harder conferences. I’d like to see more teams from those conferences, opposed to other ones."
Rhule says when you match the teams team-for-team, position-for-position and skill-for-skill that the Big Ten and SEC far outweigh some of the others.
"Expanding [the College Football Playoff] would be really cool. I think some play-in Games would be really cool," Rhule added. "Some teams benefited from not being in a conference championship game, so I think in college football, the one thing we’d like to see is uniformity. We all play the same amount of conference games and here’s how the Conference Championship Game works."
Ultimately, though, Rhule supports whatever Commissioner Tony Petittiwants to do.
"Let’s have automatic qualifiers and have No. 1 play No. 2 and have No. 3 play No. 6. No. 4 play No. 5. Play your way on it.’ You should have to win your way in, and I’d love to see it. It would be such a great step forward," Rhule said.
Whether Rhule's words are heard in the immediate future, though, remains to be seen.
Can anyone stop the North Central juggernaut in the NCAA Division III football playoffs?
The defending national champion has blown through the regular season, with only one opponent getting within 30 points of the Cardinals. After reaching the Stagg Bowl the last five years and lifting the trophy three times in that span, North Central has established itself as D3's top program.
That doesn't mean anyone will be rolling over for the Cardinals, though, and the most storied program in D3 football should be the top contender. Mount Union has 13 Division III titles, more than twice as many as any other school, and is looking to win the Stagg Bowl for the first time since 2017 after falling to North Central in the final last season.
The Purple Raiders will join a list of contenders including Johns Hopkins and Bethel hoping to find a way to solve North Central.
The Sporting News has all the details on the 2025 Division III football playoffs, including a complete schedule with live stream information.
The first round through the semifinals will stream live on ESPN+.
Catch all your favorite ESPN+ action with ESPN Select! Just download the new ESPN app, sign in with your ESPN account, tap Subscribe to ESPN Select, and you're set to stream live sports, originals, and more—all in one place.
Accolades and awards season has arrived. Before we award the Heisman Trophy, the All-American team is one that will be debated and, in some cases, contested.
Each outlet put together a compelling roster. Of those five rosters, 13 players can hang their hat on being a consensus pick. The remaining roster spots are not necessarily contested; they just were not the consensus.
The consensus All American Team
On offense: Quarterback Fernando Mendoza (IND), running backs Jeremiyah Love (ND) and Ahmad Hardy (Mizzou), wide receivers Jeremiah Smith (OSU) and Makai Lemon (USC), tight end Eli Stowers (VANDY), offensive lineman Spencer Fano (UTAH), Emmanuel Pregnon (ORE), Logan Jones (IOWA), Olaivavega Ioane (Penn St), Carter Smith (IND)
On defense: Edge rushers David Bailey (Texas Tech) and Cashius Howell, interior defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (OSU) and A’Mauri Washington (ORE), linebackers Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech), Arvell Reese (OSU), and CJ Allen (GEORGIA), safeties Caleb Downs (OSU) and Louis Moore (ND), and cornerbacks Mansoor Delane (LSU) and Leonard Moore (ND).
In the case of Jeremiyah Love, Ahmad Hardy, Makai Lemon, Jeremiah Smith, Eli Stowers, David Bailey, Kayden McDonald, Cashius Howell, Jacob Rodriguez, Arvell Reese, CJ Allen, Leonard Moore and Mansoor Delane, all were consensus picks.
Quarterback, offensive line, the second interior defensive lineman, and safety were much less agreed upon. In some cases, these variances are understandable. In the case of quarterback, there were not five different answers. It was two answers divided five ways.
CBS and On3 had Diego Pavia as their pick at quarterback. However, USA Today, The Athletic and Pro Football Focus all had Fernando Mendoza as their pick. Considering the Heisman race, this is an important position. While the pick feels like a coin flip, Mendoza has the better Heisman odds and has his team in the No. 1 spot.
Offensive lines are always a bit of a mixed bag. Like quarterback, there really is no bad answer. At tackle it comes down to three names for two spots. Spencer Fano, Carter Smith and the odd man out, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa. At guard, there are more names, but the same scenario. Emmanuel Pregnon and Olaivavega Ioane win the starting spots, but also Beau Stevens (IOWA), Febechi Nwaiwu (OKLA), and Kade Pieper (IOWA) were considered.
Center is again a three-headed situation. Miami’s James Brockermeyer, Iowa’s Logan Jones, and Florida’s Jack Slaughter. Logan Jones was considerably more consistent, but Brockermeyer and Slaughter make significant cases for the lone center spot.
Interior defensive lineman not named Kayden McDonald was the strangest part of the evaluation. Five outlets, five different names. All five names are deserving of the accolade, but only one can hold the spot. Landon Robinson of Navy, Tyrique Tucker of Indiana, Lee Hunter of Texas Tech and AJ Holmes Jr of Texas Tech all were considered, but ultimately went to A’Mauri Washington from Oregon.
Safety, like quarterback only came down to two names. Two names that otherwise would be the consensus if not for The Athletic and PFF having one off choices. Caleb Downs and Louis Moore make up the safety roster spots for CBS, USA Today and On3. The Athletic had Downs and Dillon Thieneman (ORE), while PFF had Moore and Bishop Fitzgerald (USC).
Snubs and overlooked candidates
The term “snubs” might not apply here as the term suggests ‘didn’t make it but should have’. Obviously, many college football players with good production might wonder why they didn’t make it. That is to be expected. However, after searching for names not mentioned among the five, like Rueben Bain Jr of Miami or LJ Martin of BYU, there are reasons there are names ahead of them.
Drew Mestemaker, the North Texas quarterback has a legitimate complaint. Competition level being the prime reason against. Mestemaker was the only division 1 quarterback to put up over 4,000 yards. The next closes was 3,681 yards from Baylor’s Sawyer Robinson. You have to go all the way down to the No. 11 spot to find a Heisman hopeful or a playoff quarterback in Julian Sayin. Sayin was only a few yards ahead of the QB winner, Mendoza.
There were three running backs to outperform Jeremiyah Love in yards. Once yards and touchdowns are viewed together, Love is the clear RB1 with Ahmad Hardy being a pretty close second for the RB2 spot. However, right after that there are names that were very much in the conversation. Cam Cook of Jacksonville State led the nation in rushing with 16 touchdowns being nothing to sneeze at.
After Love, the aforementioned LJ Martin and his 1,305 yards to go with 12 touchdowns was also a factor. However, the biggest would-be snub at running back would have to be Kewan Lacy of Ole Miss. Lacy is one of only two backs to score 20 or more rushing touchdowns. His almost 1,300 yards on the ground separates him from Caleb Hawkins (N. Texas), the other back with 20+ touchdowns.
Despite having a comparatively down season (when compared to 2024) Jeremiah Smith absolutely still makes the cut. He and Makai Lemon are without a doubt WR1 and WR2. Danny Scudero (San Jose State), Skyler Bell (UConn) and Wyatt Young (N. Texas) all have more yards than Lemon or Smith, but the 13.6+ yards per reception and their 11 touchdowns separates them from the pack.
Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr was not the defensive end snub one might think with only 4.5 sacks registered in 2025. While Bain should expect to hear his name called early on day 1 of the NFL Draft, his sack numbers by season’s end were not close enough to challenge Bailey and Howell.
However, Western Michigan’s Nadame Tucker, does have a complaint to file. Despite the competition gap, Tucker led the nation in sacks, not Bailey. Tucker also leads all qualified candidates with four forced fumbles. Tucker also had more tackles than both Bailey and Howell.
At linebacker, there were two names ahead of everyone else. Jacob Rodgriguez and Arvell Reese. Along with CJ Allen, they form a consensus linebacker group. However, Colorado State’s Owen Long led the nation in tackles with 151. Which was 34 more tackles than the fan favorite Rodriguez.
Each name mentioned here is deserving of credit and accolades based on highly productive seasons. However, there are only so many spots per position. Each All-American team posted by CBS, USA Today, On3, The Athletic and PFF are good rosters and none had any player named who was not within range. The composite team takes all of those names mentioned at five different outlets and creates best fit result or as close to consensus as any outlet is bound to provide.
The thrilling 2025 college football regular season has concluded, leaving a wake of unforgettable moments, historic upsets, and dominant individual performances. Now, as the dust settles and the College Football Playoff field is set, the spotlight turns from team standings to the players who defined the year.
The release of the finalists for college football’s most prestigious annual awards officially kicks off the final leg of the season. The race for the Heisman Memorial Trophy has been one of the closest in recent memory, featuring unexpected challengers like Indiana’s transcendent quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Vanderbilt’s dynamic signal-caller Diego Pavia, alongside other elite talents like Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State QB Julian Sayin.
The receiving corps was just as electric, with a fierce battle for the Biletnikoff Award—honoring the nation’s most outstanding receiver—headlined by Ohio State’s phenomenal sophomore Jeremiah Smith and USC’s versatile playmaker Makai Lemon.
It is time to celebrate the athletes who rose above the competition, rewriting record books and delivering iconic performances for their universities.
Here are the complete lists of finalists and announced winners for each of college football’s top individual honors.
Marcus Freeman may still be coming to terms with Notre Dame’s exclusion from the College Football Playoff, but the Irish coach is already drawing attention at the professional level.
There were rumors he could end up with the Chicago Bears after the season, but there's reportedly another team with serious interest. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Freeman has emerged as a candidate for the New York Giants’ head coaching vacancy.
Russini reported that Freeman is on a short list that also includes Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Indianapolis defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. She also linked Texas' Steve Sarkisian to the Tennessee Titans opening earlier this year.
Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman is among the names on the candidates list for the Giants’ head coaching vacancy, I’m told.
Freeman is an attractive option for a few different reasons. He's expected to draw interest from multiple NFL teams after leading Notre Dame to the national championship game last season and compiling a 10-2 record this year. The 39-year-old coach has steadily elevated the program since taking over in 2022, establishing Notre Dame as a consistent national contender.
Whether Freeman would consider a move to the NFL remains unclear. He signed a contract extension last year that runs through the 2030 season, signaling Notre Dame’s long-term commitment to him. Freeman has frequently emphasized his belief in the program and his desire to bring a national title to South Bend.
Just like the college carousel, the NFL moves quickly, and opportunities at the professional level are rare. As recent coaching cycles have shown, contract terms often become secondary when coveted positions open, leaving Freeman with significant decisions ahead as interest builds.
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers is finalizing a deal to remain in Columbia for the 2026 season, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
This is a move that would keep one of college football’s most talented dual-threat quarterbacks out of the NFL Draft for at least one more year.
Sellers had been widely viewed as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and, at times, a candidate to be selected near the top of the board. Instead, he is expected to return to South Carolina and is reportedly in the final stages of an agreement to run it back with the Gamecocks.
Sources: South Carolina star quarterback LaNorris Sellers is nearing a deal to return to the school for his redshirt junior year in 2026. He’s indicated to the staff he’ll be returning. The sides are the expected to finalize a deal soon. pic.twitter.com/mIOodckfMe
Seller, who has been part of the program for three seasons, has started the past two years and emerged as one of the nation’s most dynamic quarterbacks. Over that span, he has completed 63.2% of his passes for 4,971 yards with 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, while adding 944 rushing yards and 12 scores on the ground.
His production dipped this past season following a breakout first year as a starter. Sellers completed 60.8% of his throws for 2,437 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while rushing for 270 yards and five touchdowns as the offense regressed overall.
Now entering his third season as the starter, Sellers will work under his third offensive coordinator in three years, with Kendal Briles taking over after stops at Baylor, Arkansas and Florida State.
South Carolina is banking on continuity at quarterback and another step forward as Sellers looks to refine his game and lead the Gamecocks again.
There aren’t many stories in college football better than Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers.
Mendoza, who transferred to Bloomington from California in the offseason, has been electric for Indiana on its way to the program’s first-ever 13-0 season and its first outright Big Ten title since 1945. The quarterback has emerged as one of the best players in the sport, leading the nation in passing touchdowns in his first year in Bloomington.
Here’s more about his hometown, high school and where the Hoosiers’ superstar came from.
He was born in Miami and attended Christopher Columbus High School there. He is also of Cuban descent, with all four of his grandparents having been born and raised in Cuba before emigrating to Miami.
Mandy Mendoza is a central figure in Fernando’s life and a powerful inspiration for his charitable work. She is recognized for her courageous battle against Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a progressive autoimmune disease. The family often speaks about how her perseverance has shaped Fernando’s resilient mindset and work ethic.
Fernando Mendoza's mom lives with MS.
She's his best friend and inspiration for everything he does.
If you do anything today, take two minutes and listen to Fernando talk about his mom and how much she means to him. pic.twitter.com/tWHvC7QjxN
Mandy has been instrumental in the creation of Fernando's NIL merchandise line, as a portion of all proceeds is dedicated to the National MS Society. By publicly sharing her story, she has helped transform her son's athletic success into a significant platform for MS awareness and fundraising. She resides with the family in Miami.
Alex Mendoza (Father)
Alex Mendoza is the father of Fernando and has played a key role in supporting his son's football career and the family's transition to a high-profile college football environment. He has been described in media reports as a quiet but consistent source of support, often managing the complexities surrounding Fernando's college career and his off-field business endeavors.
Indiana football quarterback Fernando Mendoza sees his mom and dad for the first time after winning a Big Ten Title pic.twitter.com/XevCQJn0yZ
Alex, along with Mandy, raised Fernando in Miami. The Mendozas have deep roots in the city, with Alex supporting Fernando through his high school years and during the period he spent at Cal before his transfer to Indiana.
Mendoza attended Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. He was a notable quarterback for the Explorers, although he was not a heavily recruited prospect, which has added to his compelling underdog story.
Mendoza was part of the 2019 team that won the Florida 8A State Championship as a sophomore. Though he was the third-string quarterback, he gained valuable experience and started a few games that year due to injuries.
Mendoza played in 17 games in high school, the majority of starts coming his senior year. In 2021, he completed 107 of 169 passes (63.3% completion rate) for 1,169 yards, with 11 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions.
He led Columbus to the FHSAA Class 8A State Championship game. As a recruit, Mendoza initially committed to Yale before flipping to California.
Did Fernando Mendoza play other sports?
Mendoza did not play other sports in high school.
Fernando Mendoza recruiting offers
Mendoza was rated as a two-star or low three-star prospect, depending on the recruiting service, and was not highly sought after by Power Five (now Power Four) schools.
Rated as only a two-star or low three-star prospect, Mendoza did not attract the attention of top FBS schools for much of his high school career, despite leading his team to a state championship appearance. His initial and most notable offers came from smaller Division I programs, including Yale, Penn, and Lehigh. Believing this was his highest ceiling,
Mendoza committed to Yale before his senior year. Crucially, the University of California, Berkeley (Cal) was the only Power Five school to extend a scholarship offer to Mendoza, and it came very late in the cycle after another quarterback de-committed. Seizing the opportunity to play at the highest level, Mendoza flipped his commitment from Yale and signed with Cal, signaling that his remarkable career.
Fernando Mendoza is not your typical college football star. He helped lead the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten title since 1967, sure, but there’s more depth to the Indiana QB than what’s apparent on television.
Off the field, Mendoza has taken an interest in business, real estate and finance. He earned his undergraduate degree from Cal in just three years and has interned for real estate firms. His LinkedIn is quite active, too.
At Indiana, he is enrolled in business coursework. Here’s everything you need to know about Mendoza’s LinkedIn page and his degrees from Cal and Indiana
Mendoza is active on LinkedIn and posts frequent updates on his page — from attending baseball games to announcing NIL partnerships with major brands like Adidas and more.
Mendoza's LinkedIn includes an in-depth "About Me" section:
"Process-driven and detail-oriented leader studying Business Administration at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business after graduating from UC Berkeley in three years," His page reads.
"As a quarterback for Indiana Football, I apply a strong foundation in leadership, time management, and communication to excel both on and off the field. I’m passionate about leveraging my background in business, real estate, and finance to build a career that combines strategic thinking, teamwork, and community impact.I take pride in fostering positive team culture, adapting to new environments, and driving success through preparation, accountability, and collaboration."
According to Mendoza's Indiana bio, he earned his undergraduate from Cal in business administration in just three years. At Indiana, he is pursuing a Master's degree in Business Administration and Management, commonly referred to as an MBA. His listed date of completion is Dec. 2026.
What did Fernando Mendoza study at Cal?
Mendoza's LinkedIn page also feartures various insights on what he has studied during his collegiate career. He has some impressive coursework listed from his days at Cal, like Analytical Geometry and Calculus, Introductory Probability and Statistics for Business, Introduction to Economics and Principles of Business.
What does Fernando Mendoza study at Indiana?
Mendoza is enrolled in Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. According to Carolyn Goerner, who is faculty chair of Kelley Executive Education Programs and clinical professor of management at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, IU students enrolled in the program's MBA program can take a variety of courses. The school partners with various organizations like the NFLPA, Major League Baseball, the WNBA to customize a curriculum, while also requiring the 10 core courses required to earn an MBA.
"In terms of the electives, that's where folks can get some more flexibility," Goerner told The Sporting News via a phone interview. Our program tends to offer electives as they relate to what our partner organizations want, and so that's really the flex coming in here. So we've actually sat down with our professional sports associations and done the surveys [asking] what are your what do your folks need as they're transitioning out of sport, and then kind of put the courses together accordingly."
While Mendoza himself is expected to have a career in the NFL after his playing days at Indiana, Goerner says the program has helped former IU athletes in the next stages of their careers.
"A couple of our NFL players have started foundations," Goerner said. So they've gone through the whole 'how do I figure out a nonprofit and make that work?' A lot of the folks come through, and what winds up happening is just a series of businesses. So there's not just one thing, but a number of enterprises. ur goal is to set them up so that they can know what the financial statements say and how to make decisions around them. Know how to evaluate people who might be working with them, and really just have a good sense of how to partner smartly with folks as they move through a variety of different ventures."
Mendoza has interned for two different places, in the summer of 2023 and 2024. His first internship, with Acre Investment Company is described on LinkedIn as "a Northern California based investment firm pursuing value-add commercial and residential real estate opportunities."
According to Mendoza’s LinkedIn page, he worked in commercial real estate with Acre, where he researched available properties nationwide, compiled data for those listings, and helped streamline the acquisition process for future business endeavors.
In the summer of 2024, Mendoza interned with Newmark, a commercial real estate advisor and service provider to large institutional investors and global corporations. Per his LinkedIn page, Mendoza conducted property tours, researched commercial real estate in the Bay Area, and participated in various workshops and networking events.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza could potentially become the Hoosiers’ first-ever Heisman winner. The redshirt junior is having the best season of his collegiate career, throwing for 2,980 yards with 33 touchdowns and six interceptions.
He led Indiana to its first Big Ten title since 1967 in his first season as the Hoosiers’ starter. Mendoza spent three seasons at Cal before transferring to Indiana. Although it may seem as if he was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school, he was anything but.
Here’s how a former two-star recruit with just one power-conference offer became the odds-on favorite to capture the Heisman Trophy.
Mendoza started his high school career at Miami’s Belen Jesuit Prep School before transferring to rival Christopher Columbus High School as a sophomore. A private all-boys school, Columbus has a strong reputation both athletically and academically. It has produced numerous college and NFL stars, including Mike Shula, Alonzo Highsmith, Brian Griese and Miami head coach Mario Cristobal.
Under head coach Dave Dunn, the program has won three state titles: in 2019 — when Mendoza was a backup as a sophomore — and again in 2022 and 2023.
"He's deadly serious about becoming a great football player," Dunn told The Sporting News. "He would eat lunch with me every day just to go over, like, whatever it was that day. It might be practice film from that morning, we'd watch opponent film. He would have a question or an idea that we would go over on the board."
When Columbus' starting quarterback got hurt in 2019, Mendoza showed flashes of his ability in clutch moments. Leading up to a game against Dillard High School, Dunn says Mendoza was out sick all week. Mendoza's father, Fernando IV, played offensive line with Cristobal at Columbus, and was a national and collegiate rower. The older Mendoza called Dunn that week to ensure his son would be in school on Friday to suit up, in case the coach needed him. Lo and behold, he did.
"The only other quarterback we had gets a concussion in the game," Dunn said. "We are down by seven. I think there's maybe 20 seconds to go, and we had the ball. His first pass ever—he did not practice the whole week—he threw a touchdown pass."
Although Columbus missed the extra point and lost the game, Mendoza's performance impressed Dunn.
"I'm like, 'this kid's, he's unbelievable,'" Dunn said. "It was literally, like an eight-day period of him not practicing, coming in the worst possible situation, and putting us in position to win the game."
"It's the exact same stuff you see on TV when he's playing for IU right now," Dunn continued. "Knows where to go with the football. Deadly accurate, very decisive. All the qualities you want in a quarterback."
Mendoza became a starter for the Explorers as a junior and senior in 2020 and 2021. Although he threw for 2,195 yards with 24 touchdowns over those two seasons, his college recruitment was relatively quiet.
His offers included the likes of Yale, Penn, Lehigh, Bryant and FIU. He attended camps at Miami, FIU and LSU, but COVID disrupted his process. Columbus played just eight games in 2020, choosing to opt out of the FHSAA postseason due to COVID concerns. There was also far less in-person scouting that year. He was rated as a two-star per the 247Sports Composite, ranked as the No. 140th overall quarterback for 2022.
"It was beyond frustrating," Dunn said of the lack of interest from major schools in his quarterback.
But Fernando wasn't fazed by the lack of interest from major schools.
"He had faith that it eventually would work out," Dunn said. "[He knew] how hard everybody was working for him. At the end it was his faith in the process was what was able to kind of pull him through that tough time."
He was committed to Yale for most of his recruiting process until Cal — his first and only offer from a power-conference school — came along late. Current Cleveland Browns quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave, who was Cal's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2020-2022, learned about Mendoza from a well-known quarterbacks coach in South Florida, David Lee.
"He called and said, 'I don't know where you are with the recruiting, you probably have a guy committed there at Cal, but there's a guy down here I've been training, and COVID adversely affected his recruiting."
The Bears had planned on signing 4-star QB Justyn Martin, but he flipped to UCLA in the fall of 2021.
"'When I work him out, I swear, he's actually really good at football,'" Musgrave continued, recalling what Lee told him about Mendoza.
Lee writes quarterback scouting reports for the Miami Dolphins, and is credited with helping bring the Wildcat to the NFL.
"There aren't a lot of tall guys playing quarterback anymore," Musgrave said of Mendoza as a passer. "They're smaller guys that can move and run around and ad-lib, which is great — that's one way to skin the cat, but another way to skin the cat is to be a precision passer from the pocket, and that's what he is. He's deadly accurate down the field, intermediate. He throws with anticipation."
Mendoza visited Cal during the last week in January and flipped his pledge to the Bears a few days later on National Signing Day.
Why did Fernando Mendoza transfer from Cal to Indiana?
As a true freshman at Cal, Mendoza shined bright in simulated late-game situations during practice.
"This kid would make some throw or some scramble or great fade or post down the middle," Musgrave said. "And just feather it perfectly. Or drive it and frozen rope it right in for a touchdown. I mean, time after time after time in those clutch situations."
Mendoza took a redshirt in 2022 before starting for Cal in 2023 and 2024. He threw for 4,712 yards with 30 touchdowns and 16 interceptions with the Bears, having three different offensive coordinators during his time at Berkeley.
But at Indiana, Mendoza has elevated himself as a passer. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana has produced top-five scoring offenses two seasons in a row. His offensive coordinator, Mike Shanahan (coincidentally, no relation to that Mike Shanahan), has been with Cignetti since he was a head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2016.
"I just think it's the combination of the stability of the coaching staff at IU," Dunn said. "And the system from year to year that has allowed him to flourish."
Just like he did in high school and at Cal, he's come through clutch in late-game situations. He's led game-winning drives on the road against Iowa, Oregon and Penn State. The road game against Penn State on Nov. 8 is one that vaulted him to the front of the Heisman race. Trailing 24-20 with two minutes left, Mendoza led the Hoosiers on a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.
His touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. in the back of the end zone is one of the best throws of the season.
Dunn texted Mendoza after the game, congratulating him on the win.
"I said 'epic composure, leading your team down the field.' He texted me back, 'just like [the] Deerfield Beach game junior year, just louder.'"
Mendoza’s impressive season has him climbing up draft boards. He is a redshirt junior with one year of eligibility remaining, but he could declare for the NFL Draft after this season.
"He would want to be compared to Tom Brady, because that's his idol," Dunn said of his NFL outlook. "I will not throw that comparison out there."But, he's a big, strong, intelligent quarterback that will do everything possible to make himself ready to play on Sundays and make his team better."
ESPN's latest mock draft has him going No. 1 overall to the New York Jets, CBS puts him at No. 2 overall to the Raiders.
"He's not going to be surprised by anything on the field," Musgrave added, comparing him to Matt Ryan, whom he coached with the Atlanta Falcons. "He prepares, and when he sees something on the field, he's got a real fast processor. He's got a real lightning quick chip there in his brain. He can process what he sees and be decisive in a nanosecond."
Army vs. Navy is one of college football's oldest and greatest rivalries. Who will stand tall when M&T Bank Stadium hosts both programs?
Navy holds the all-time record against Army, 63–55–7. The former won last year and attempts to win two straight for the first time since 2014-15.
Jeff Monken has coached Army to the Fenway Bowl, the Black Knights’ second straight bowl game since 2020-21. Last year's AAC champions are led by QB Cale Hellums, a dual-threat QB who has more rushing than passing yards.
Navy also has a dual-threat QB in Blake Horvath, who has rushed and thrown for over 1,000 yards. The Midshipmen will compete in a second straight bowl game for the first time since 2016-17.
Here is everything that you need to know in order to listen to Army vs. Navy on the radio.
Army vs. Navy radio station
Radio station: SiriusXM channels 82 (Army broadcast), 83 (Navy broadcast)
You can listen to Army vs. Navy live on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channels 82 (Army broadcast) and 83 (Navy broadcast).
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Army vs. Navy start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Army vs. Navy kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. ET. The game will be played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The home of the Ravens can hold up to 71,008 people.
There is no greater tradition in college football than when Army and Navy face off. Expect fireworks this year at M&T Bank Stadium.
The rivalry started in 1890. Navy holds the all-time record against Army, 63–55–7. The former won last year and attempts to win two straight for the first time since 2014-15.
Last season, Army won the American and was 11-1 entering this matchup before falling to Navy. This season, the Black Knights enter the game at 6-5, rallying to win three of their last four. QB Cale Hellums has more rushing yards than he does passing yards. Right behind him in the former category is Noah Short.
Navy attempts to win another matchup for the Midshipmen’s third straight win. It would give them momentum heading into the Liberty Bowl. Blake Horvath is a dual-threat QB, throwing the ball and rushing it for over 1,000 yards.
The Sporting News has all the details on how to watch Army vs. Navy.
Fans can watch Army vs. Navy from home on CBS's broadcast and Paramount+.
Paramount+ gives subscribers the ability to watch basketball, football, golf and soccer, and they won't have to break the bank in order to follow along with the latest sporting events. Paramount+ does have a FREE trial, so new subscribers can enjoy it for one week before making a payment.
The game is also available via Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
Army vs. Navy start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Army vs. Navy kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. ET.
Where is the Army-Navy game in 2025?
Location: M&T Bank Stadium - Baltimore, Maryland
The Army vs. Navy game will be played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The home of the Ravens can hold up to 71,008 people.
Army vs. Navy radio station
Radio station: SiriusXM channels 82 (Army broadcast), 83 (Navy broadcast)
You can listen to Army vs. Navy live on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channels 82 (Army broadcast) and 83 (Navy broadcast).
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Diego Pavia's magical run at Vanderbilt is ending in New York.
The Commodores quarterback was named one of the four Heisman Trophy finalists for 2025, and Pavia has a legitimate chance to win the award this season. Since Pavia is currently in his sixth collegiate season, a Heisman Trophy victory would make him one of the oldest winners in the award's history.
Pavia has already cemented his place in Vanderbilt history with his 2025 performance, but a Heisman Trophy victory would make him a legend in more ways than one. Here's a look at how Pavia can make history.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia is 23 years old and will turn 24 on Feb. 16, 2026. He is the oldest of the four Heisman Trophy finalists in 2025 and would be one of the oldest Heisman Trophy winners in the award's history.
Pavia has been playing college football for six years, as he began his career at the New Mexico Military Institute, then transferred to New Mexico State University and, finally, to Vanderbilt. In his entire college football career, Pavia's best season was his sixth, when he produced career-high numbers across the board for the Commodores.
The oldest player to ever win the Heisman Trophy was Chris Weinke, who was 28 when he won the award for Florida State in 2000. Weinke initially pursued a career in baseball, but then transitioned to football after failing to make the major leagues. Weinke enrolled in Florida State at 25 years old, and during his senior season, won the Heisman as a 28-year-old quarterback.
Only two other Heisman Trophy winners besides Weinke were even 23 years old at the time of their award. One was Oklahoma RB Billy Sims, who had just turned 23 years old when he won in 1978, and the other was HB/QB Les Horvath, who won the award in 1944. Both players were the oldest players to win the award at the time of their announcements.
The three youngest players to win the Heisman Trophy have all done so in the last 20 years. Lamar Jackson, Jameis Winston and Mark Ingram II are the only three players to win the Heisman before turning 20 years-old, as they were all within a month of their 20th birthdays when they won their respective awards.
After both decimated the competition through the NCAA Division III Tournament, which team will stand tall when Wheaton faces UW-River Falls in the quarterfinals?
Wheaton (11-2) has won nine in a row. The Thunder beat Crown, Wartburg, and DePauw to advance to the quarterfinals. The last game saw QB Mark Forcucci throw four touchdown passes for 293 yards. Seth Kortenhoeven had 106 receiving yards, and Matt Crider rushed for 120.
UW-River Falls (11-1) is riding an eight-game winning streak. The Falcons breezed past Chapman and Saint John's (MN) in their first two playoff games. Against the latter, Kaleb Blaha managed three touchdown passes for 245 yards. Three receivers and two running backs scored, sharing the wealth.
Here is everything you need to know about Wheaton vs. UW-River Falls, including TV and streaming options for the game.
Wheaton vs. UW-River Falls will be available to watch via ESPN+.
Catch all your favorite ESPN+ action with ESPN Select! Just download the new ESPN app, sign in with your ESPN account, tap Subscribe to ESPN Select, and you're set to stream live sports, originals, and more—all in one place.
Wheaton vs. UW-River Falls start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 3 p.m. ET | 2 p.m. CT
The Wheaton vs. UW-River Falls quarterfinal game will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 13. The game will be played at David Smith Stadium at Ramer Field in River Falls, Wisconsin.
Fernando Mendoza has had a magical 2025 season, leading the Indiana Hoosiers to an undefeated 13-0 regular season and the program’s first outright Big Ten title since 1945. Along with breaking program records as a team, Mendoza has produced a historic season of his own.
The redshirt junior quarterback, a transfer from California, shattered Indiana’s single-season passing marks by completing 71.5% of his passes for 2,980 yards and a nation-leading 33 touchdown passes against just six interceptions. He also proved to be a threat with his legs, adding 240 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, putting him second nationally in total touchdowns accounted for (39). His remarkable campaign earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Quarterback of the Year honors, along with the Walter Camp Player of the Year award. He also became just the second player in program history to be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
As one of the top players in the nation, Mendoza’s rapid rise has made him a face of the collegiate game’s new financial era. His personal brand — which includes a recent high-profile endorsement deal with Adidas and his exclusive “Mendoza Mania” merchandise line — has soared throughout the season.
Here’s a breakdown of how much the Indiana star has brought in.
According to the latest industry valuations, the Indiana star’s Name, Image, and Likeness (N.I.L.) portfolio is valued at an estimated $2.6 million, positioning him among the top five highest-valued college football players in the country.
On3 has the quarterback ranked fifth in college football and seventh in its N.I.L 100. He is listed below only four FBS players:
Arch Manning, Texas ($5.3 million)
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State ($4.2 million)
Carson Beck, Miami ($3.1 million)
Bryce Underwood, Michigan ($3 million)
His valuation spiked from an estimated $1.6 million earlier in the year to $2.6 million after the Hoosiers' perfect regular season.
“Excited to share that I’ve accepted an opportunity to join adidas!” said on LinkedIn. “I’m very grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way and excited to bring my passion for sport, leadership, and work ethic to the Three Stripes. Let’s get to work.”
He joins a star-studded adidas lineup that includes Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, Nebraska's Dylan Raiola and Arizona State's Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson.
In collaboration with his brother Alberto, who is Indiana's backup signal-caller, Mendoza launched a brand-new "Mendoza Mania" Collection on the Indiana NIL Store.
The initiative carries a deeply personal meaning for Mendoza: a portion of all proceeds from the collection will benefit the National MS Society, honoring his mother who continues her courageous fight against Multiple Sclerosis.
Fernando Mendoza's mom lives with MS.
She's his best friend and inspiration for everything he does.
If you do anything today, take two minutes and listen to Fernando talk about his mom and how much she means to him. pic.twitter.com/tWHvC7QjxN
This compassionate focus transforms the quarterback's commercial venture into a vehicle for impact, lending deeper purpose to every piece of "Mendoza Mania" merchandise sold.
By leveraging his national spotlight, Mendoza is driving crucial funds and awareness for the National MS Society's mission to cure the disease and empower those affected to live their best lives.
Mendoza's net worth is not publicly available. Though, sources report that his net worth is in the hundred thousands, reaching up to $1 million.
This will continue to rise as Mendoza leads Indiana through the College Football Playoff, and down the road, becomes a first round pick in the NFL Draft.
Two unbeaten programs face off in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs when North Central faces Bethel.
North Central is unbeaten this year and looks to keep it that way as it tries to win a third national title in four years. The Cardinals dominated against Hanover and beat Wisconsin-La Crosse to advance. QB Garret Wilson ran for a touchdown and threw one to go with 168 passing yards last week.
Bethel scored 51 against Coe and took down Wisconsin-Platteville in a tighter game last week. Against the latter, Zackary Bothun rushed for over 120 yards, while QB Nathan Uselding had one touchdown and threw over 298 yards.
Here is everything you need to know about North Central vs. Bethel, including TV and streaming options for the game.
North Central vs. Bethel will be available to watch via ESPN+.
Catch all your favorite ESPN+ action with ESPN Select! Just download the new ESPN app, sign in with your ESPN account, tap Subscribe to ESPN Select, and you're set to stream live sports, originals, and more—all in one place.
North Central vs. Bethel start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 1 p.m. ET
The North Central vs. Bethel quarterfinal game will kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 13. The game will be played at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, Illinois.
The next round of the NCAA Division III playoffs is underway. Can Johns Hopkins continue its momentum, or will it be Susquehanna that shines bright?
Johns Hopkins beat Springfield and dominated Salisbury to advance. It’s the third consecutive season the Blue Jays have made it to the quarterfinals. QB Bay Harvey had five touchdowns. He threw three and rushed for two.
Susquehanna beat Washington & Jefferson, Christopher Newport, and Eastern to advance. The shutout win against Eastern saw Susquehanna's defense allow just 136 total yards while forcing three turnovers.
The River Hawks avenged a regular-season loss to CNU earlier in the playoffs; can they do the same Saturday nearly three months after falling 40-22 to Hopkins?
Here is everything you need to know about Johns Hopkins vs. Susquehanna, including TV and streaming options for the game.
Johns Hopkins vs. Susquehanna will be available to watch via ESPN+.
Catch all your favorite ESPN+ action with ESPN Select! Just download the new ESPN app, sign in with your ESPN account, tap Subscribe to ESPN Select, and you're set to stream live sports, originals, and more—all in one place.
Johns Hopkins vs. Susquehanna start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 12 p.m. ET
The Johns Hopkins vs. Susquehanna quarterfinal game will kick off at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 13. The game will be played at Homewood Field in Baltimore, Maryland.
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