Mendoza's fourth-down TD run showed heart, field vision, and clutch execution in title game.

On fourth down in the National Championship, Mendoza executed an RPO perfectly, reading Miami's five-man box and man coverage pre-snap to favor the QB draw. When neither slot fade nor short curl routes were open post-snap, he took off, recognized the lane opening outside the hashmarks, pivoted outside, hurdled the center's legs, broke tackles, ran over a linebacker, and stretched out to get the ball in the paint for a touchdown that gave Indiana a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter—the difference in the game.