National Championship thread

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Mendoza will be the first pick but his aunt should be available at 1.20

[K_C_]

Mendoza is a gamer, but you do wonder if can get it done at the next level especially when faced with elite NFL pass rushes. Not his best night but Cignetti made some ballsy calls tonight. Kudos to him.

Well, although Mendoza was under ridiculous pressure all night long (and endured a horrible missed targeting dirty hit) Mendoza didn’t turn the ball over once and made several big throws, as he usually does.

His TD run will go down as a legendary play in college football, deservedly.

Miami is no fucking joke and it took everything IU had to beat them.

[franco32]

Mendoza is a gamer, but you do wonder if can get it done at the next level especially when faced with elite NFL pass rushes. Not his best night but Cignetti made some ballsy calls tonight. Kudos to him.

Well, although Mendoza was under ridiculous pressure all night long (and endured a horrible missed targeting dirty hit) Mendoza didn’t turn the ball over once and made several big throws, as he usually does.

His TD run will go down as a legendary play in college football, deservedly.

Miami is no fucking joke and it took everything IU had to beat them.

He's a gamer and I like the kid. He's got a lot of heart and I have no doubt he'll work hard at the NFL level. I just don't know that he's a #1 overall pick type of talent, but the market for QBs being what it is, he'll be a Raider likely. Miami's D was outstanding last night. He'll face even faster and more athletic guys at the next level and the windows will be smaller. He has the heart, but does he have the arm and the legs to do it?

[K_C_]

Mendoza is a gamer, but you do wonder if can get it done at the next level especially when faced with elite NFL pass rushes. Not his best night but Cignetti made some ballsy calls tonight. Kudos to him.

Well, although Mendoza was under ridiculous pressure all night long (and endured a horrible missed targeting dirty hit) Mendoza didn’t turn the ball over once and made several big throws, as he usually does.

His TD run will go down as a legendary play in college football, deservedly.

Miami is no fucking joke and it took everything IU had to beat them.

He's a gamer and I like the kid. He's got a lot of heart and I have no doubt he'll work hard at the NFL level. I just don't know that he's a #1 overall pick type of talent, but the market for QBs being what it is, he'll be a Raider likely. Miami's D was outstanding last night. He'll face even faster and more athletic guys at the next level and the windows will be smaller. He has the heart, but does he have the arm and the legs to do it?

Mendoza will face better talent and he’ll very likely have better talent around him (the Raiders have pieces. Jeanty along with both Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer.) Let’s also see who ends up Mendoza’s head coach. Turnaround’s can happen fast if you get the right head coach.

The Steelers are trying to do the same thing. Mendoza has surgical accuracy and plenty of arm. I think he answered the legs question all year long with the cherry on top last night with one of the greatest QB runs in history.

[6Trophies]

Yinzer talk after the NC game last night.

I too was born in that hospital (Magee-Women's Hospital now UPMC)

https://x.com/ThePoniExpress/status/201 ... 45035?s=20

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Is Cuban transitioning? I'm not talking about the pink shirt but there's something odd about him.

[Jobu]

Cuban and McAfee…two of the world’s biggest douchebags!

[bradshaw2ben]

I have no real interest in these Hoosier WRs. Sarratt is an average athlete and most of his catches are back shoulder throws. Cooper is good after the catch and shows a lot of effort. Not sure he’s a great route runner, seems like a #3 in the NFL. Becker is big and makes some plays, decent hands. Again, not a separator more of a size reliant one trick pony.

Becker in the NFL is AT LEAST as good as DK Metcalf. He's big, has size, is great out of his breaks, 4.39 40, and–on the rare occasions he's asked to run in-breaking routes, he's done well. And beyond that he has hands like Issac Teslaa. Round 1 WR.

[bradshaw2ben]

Mesidor and Bain are going to be players in the pros. Can’t wait for Toney to be draft eligible. He’s a game breaker. Hoosiers had great coaching. I’m not sure I see a future NFL Pro Bowler on their roster though I do like Carter Smith.

I thought Toney was as good as ANY WR in CFB this year. So much football sense & talent.

[jebrick]

I have no real interest in these Hoosier WRs. Sarratt is an average athlete and most of his catches are back shoulder throws. Cooper is good after the catch and shows a lot of effort. Not sure he’s a great route runner, seems like a #3 in the NFL. Becker is big and makes some plays, decent hands. Again, not a separator more of a size reliant one trick pony.

Becker in the NFL is AT LEAST as good as DK Metcalf. He's big, has size, is great out of his breaks, 4.39 40, and–on the rare occasions he's asked to run in-breaking routes, he's done well. And beyond that he has hands like Issac Teslaa. Round 1 WR.

^^This^^. Not sure if he is coming out

[Deebo]

Mesidor and Bain are going to be players in the pros. Can’t wait for Toney to be draft eligible. He’s a game breaker. Hoosiers had great coaching. I’m not sure I see a future NFL Pro Bowler on their roster though I do like Carter Smith.

I thought Toney was as good as ANY WR in CFB this year. So much football sense & talent.

He gives me Tyrek Hill vibes (his on field play)

[Steelperch]

[*]

Mesidor and Bain are going to be players in the pros. Can’t wait for Toney to be draft eligible. He’s a game breaker. Hoosiers had great coaching. I’m not sure I see a future NFL Pro Bowler on their roster though I do like Carter Smith.

I thought Toney was as good as ANY WR in CFB this year. So much football sense & talent.

He gives me Tyrek Hill vibes (his on field play)

I thought college TY Hilton if you remember how dynamic he was back then. The more I analyze Mendoza the more convinced I am he is a bottom half of the league starter at best in the NFL. At least we don’t have the first pick.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Those two back shoulders that were critical vs. Miami would be NFL pick sixes.

You pick him because he is a smart winner who learns quickly and has good foundational skills but he is not a complete NFL QB at the moment.

His first year will likely be like Aikman's.

[AirRescueFF]

This discussion is shaping up to be the initial plot of Draft Day. Hehe.

[Ice]

While Mendoza won the Heisman and put up very good numbers, and did what was necessary to pull out a win in a tough contest, people forget how good Rourke looked in that offense last season. I didn't see a number one overall pick watching that game last night.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

That was by far the toughest pressure he faced all year and he didn't freak out.

That counts for a lot.

He will go 1.1 but it will take a few years to pay off.

It's amazing how the talk of the stellar 2026 draft QB class went in five months from how historically epic it was going to be with many choices including Nusmeyer, Manning, Sellars, Allar, Klubnik etc to real discussion of how the 16-0 Heisman national hero may not be good enough for the show.

I'm not sure Howard will be below that stellar group.

[Steelperch]

That was by far the toughest pressure he faced all year and he didn't freak out.

That counts for a lot.

He will go 1.1 but it will take a few years to pay off.

It's amazing how the talk of the stellar 2026 draft QB class went in five months from how historically epic it was going to be with many choices including Nusmeyer, Manning, Sellars, Allar, Klubnik etc to real discussion of how the 16-0 Heisman national hero may not be good enough for the show.

I'm not sure Howard will be below that stellar group.

Hard to freak out when you only have one read.

You are right, that class went to shit. At least perception caught up to reality on many of them like Drew Allar.

[K_C_]

While Mendoza won the Heisman and put up very good numbers, and did what was necessary to pull out a win in a tough contest, people forget how good Rourke looked in that offense last season. I didn't see a number one overall pick watching that game last night.

Miami’s front 7 hit Mendoza HARD about 30 times (not always cleanly either) and he didn’t blink. That was easily the most pressure Fernando saw all year (both edge rushers for Miami will be first round picks in a few months) and, as usual, Mendoza didn’t have a single turnover even with all that consistent pressure. In fact, Mendoza only makes an all time great collegiate run (some here believed he couldn’t run ) to put IU up 10. No turnovers and game winning plays. That’s what Mendoza is all about.

Look at Carson Beck on the other hand. Mario Landino absolutely BLASTS Beck’s ass on one of the very few times IU actually hit him. Beck later told his coaches his ears were ringing terribly and he had trouble thinking.

Then Carson threw an easy pick to give IU the Natty.

Mendoza showed plenty in that National Championship game, hitting back to back 19 yard throws to Charlie B. from Nashville, Tennessee when IU absolutely had to have them.

The guy’s a winner and just put up a season for the ages without elite weapons or anything close to it and with his work ethic, he’ll be one helluva player at the next level.

[Ice]

While Mendoza won the Heisman and put up very good numbers, and did what was necessary to pull out a win in a tough contest, people forget how good Rourke looked in that offense last season. I didn't see a number one overall pick watching that game last night.

Miami’s front 7 hit Mendoza HARD about 30 times (not always cleanly either) and he didn’t blink. That was easily the most pressure Fernando saw all year (both edge rushers for Miami will be first round picks in a few months) and, as usual, Mendoza didn’t have a single turnover even with all that consistent pressure. In fact, Mendoza only makes an all time great collegiate run (some here believed he couldn’t run ) to put IU up 10. No turnovers and game winning plays. That’s what Mendoza is all about.

Look at Carson Beck on the other hand. Mario Landino absolutely BLASTS Beck’s ass on one of the very few times IU actually hit him. Beck later told his coaches his ears were ringing terribly and he had trouble thinking.

Then Carson threw an easy pick to give IU the Natty.

Mendoza showed plenty in that National Championship game, hitting back to back 19 yard throws to Charlie B. from Nashville, Tennessee when IU absolutely had to have them.

The guy’s a winner and just put up a season for the ages without elite weapons or anything close to it and with his work ethic, he’ll be one helluva player at the next level.

As my dad tells me my granddad said, that's what makes horse racing. You've more than earned that opinion.

[Deebo]

While Mendoza won the Heisman and put up very good numbers, and did what was necessary to pull out a win in a tough contest, people forget how good Rourke looked in that offense last season. I didn't see a number one overall pick watching that game last night.

Miami’s front 7 hit Mendoza HARD about 30 times (not always cleanly either) and he didn’t blink. That was easily the most pressure Fernando saw all year (both edge rushers for Miami will be first round picks in a few months) and, as usual, Mendoza didn’t have a single turnover even with all that consistent pressure. In fact, Mendoza only makes an all time great collegiate run (some here believed he couldn’t run ) to put IU up 10. No turnovers and game winning plays. That’s what Mendoza is all about.

Look at Carson Beck on the other hand. Mario Landino absolutely BLASTS Beck’s ass on one of the very few times IU actually hit him. Beck later told his coaches his ears were ringing terribly and he had trouble thinking.

Then Carson threw an easy pick to give IU the Natty.

Mendoza showed plenty in that National Championship game, hitting back to back 19 yard throws to Charlie B. from Nashville, Tennessee when IU absolutely had to have them.

The guy’s a winner and just put up a season for the ages without elite weapons or anything close to it and with his work ethic, he’ll be one helluva player at the next level.

It was clear from the beginning that Miami had 1 goal on defense: rough up Mendoza to make him gun shy.
Dude showed a ton of balls. Miami's Dline ain't no joke

All kudos to him this season. Be very curious to see what he brings to the NFL

[franco32]

I really like Fernando. Great kid. Tough as nails. Good accuracy. He's just missing a little bit of zip for my liking, but then again, so is Brock Purdy. As for his running/scrambling ability, it isn't pretty but he gets the job done in college. The problem is I don't think he'll be that effective running in the NFL. He's going to have to rely on quick decision making and accuracy. Should be fun to watch and see how it goes.

[jeemie]

I wanted Beck to get the ball to the red zone and see if Indiana could make a four down stand.

The INT was almost anticlimactic and a mistake on Beck/the receivers' fault.

Beck with four shots inside the 20 would have been more epic.

Just my two cents...