00:00Hoosiers quarterback gives glory to God after beating Ohio State in Big Ten Championship.
00:06Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza gave an emotional, faith-filled response after leading the Hoosiers to a 13-10 victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
00:18The win marked Indiana's 13th straight victory and secured the program's latest conference title.
00:24Mendoza threw for 222 yards and one touchdown in the defensive battle.
00:28Speaking with Fox Sports reporter Jenny Taft after the game, he said becoming a Big Ten champion sounds so beautiful, immediately giving credit to his faith and the people around him.
00:38I want to give all the glory to God, he said.
00:41We were never supposed to be in this position, but by the glory of God, the great coaches, great teammates, everybody around us, we were able to pull this off.
00:50Whoever thought the Hoosiers would be here, but now the Hoosiers are champs.
00:53Taft asked why this team of so-called misfits found the perfect home at Indiana.
00:59Mendoza explained that the team's identity came from discipline, shared purpose, and brotherhood.
01:05We're process-oriented, he said.
01:07Whether it's the offensive line, defense, coaches, or special teams, we all focus on one goal.
01:14We can drag teams into the deep end because we know we'll stick together.
01:17We have the strongest glue ever.
01:20He also highlighted his close connection with wide receiver Charlie Becker, who was instrumental throughout the season.
01:26Every day in the summer, we'd throw before practice 7 a.m. on Sundays, doing routes, doing spots, and now you see it come to fruition, Mendoza said.
01:36He's my roommate, and I couldn't be happier for him.
01:39Our defense played lights out.
01:41What an incredible moment.
01:42Mendoza's championship performance capped a standout season, where he recorded 2,758 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and just five interceptions.
01:54Despite opening the title game with an interception, he rebounded to guide the Hoosiers to one of the biggest wins in program history,
02:01and positioned himself as a major contender for the Heisman Trophy.
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