Over half of Lucas Oil Stadium looked on in shock.
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s Heisman hopeful quarterback, was laid out on the turf after a hit by Ohio State edge rusher Caden Curry. Matt Patricia, the Buckeyes defensive coordinator, looked on and noted how this could change the game.
“Okay, alright, here we go.”
That wasn’t it for Mendoza though, far from it. He rose from the turf and jogged off the field for a single snap before returning right after. That changed things for Patricia.
“Uh oh,” Patricia said. “We got a problem.”
Mendoza, of course, went on to lead the Hoosiers to a 13-10 come from behind victory over the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Football Championship Game, completing 15 of his 23 passes for 222 yards, a touchdown and an interception. His go ahead touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt in the corner of the endzone late in the third quarter was the game’s final scoring play. He’d then, of course, go on to win the Heisman Trophy, lead Indiana to victory in the College Football Playoff and be selected with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Patricia, who’s coached against several top quarterbacks in college and the NFL, recalled Indiana’s game against Ohio State during an appearance on Good Morning Football praising Mendoza, who reached out to him for a chat during the NFL Combine.
“Unbelievable guy,” Patricia said. “We talked for a little while, just so impressed by him.”