Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza finds comfort in prayer

ATLANTA – Many athletes have a go-to song to play before a big game. They usually play an inspirational or motivational song repeatedly to get into the right mindset. Heisman Trophy winner Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is different.

“Dreams and Nightmares” by Meek Mill is a popular choice among some athletes. “Power” by Kanye West is another track athletes often use to mentally prepare for competition.

Prayer on the field or court is another way athletes prepare for games. Whether it’s drawing the sign of the cross in the red dirt or gathering at midcourt with teammates, arms wrapped around one another, to say a group prayer, these moments help athletes prepare before competition.

Mendoza doesn’t need a hype song. He’s more likely to pray before he leads Indiana against No. 5 Oregon in the 2026 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Friday night. What could be better than a hype song you might ask?

No hype song needed

”I meditate and I pray,” Mendoza said. “I think praying is in a way of meditation. To help myself be in my thoughts, and being able to execute the plan, as quarterback is a cerebral position.”

Mendoza has had a season to remember for No. 1 Indiana. The redshirt junior transfer spent three years at Cal. After his redshirt sophomore season, he found a new home in Bloomington, Ind.

The Cuban American won the starting job in the beginning of the season and never looked back. Mendoza has led the Hoosiers to an undefeated season, knocking off Illinois, Iowa, Penn State, and Oregon to reach the Big 10 Championship Game.

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The Hoosiers had their biggest test traveling to Indianapolis, where they beat then-No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship. Then they routed Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

Mendoza won the Walter Camp, Maxwell and Davey O’Brien awards. The All-American also became the third Latino and first Cuban American to win the Heisman.  Mendoza has thrown for 3,172 passing yards and 36 touchdowns. He has a 184.7 quarterback rating.

Avoiding social media

The spotlight can place significant pressure on an athlete, especially with the media’s attention. However, how that coverage is handled depends on the individual.

For Mendoza, the 26-day layoff between the Big Ten Championship, the Heisman Trophy presentation, and the Rose Bowl gave him time to relax, clear his mind and enjoy life as a student-athlete.

”There was a lot of media attention, especially after the Heisman, that I was grateful,” Mendoza said. “I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That was a great honor for all of us. However, really stepping back and keeping to my process and keeping to my routine and not changing too much and also not really having social media.

”I only have LinkedIn and YouTube on my phone right now. … I’m listening to what my quarterback coach says and what the quarterbacks in our room think, so that is what my focus is. And that’s how I’ve been able to play my best football so far.”

‘Wants to be great’

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti recruited Mendoza after last season. The Hoosiers didn’t have any 5-star recruits when Cignetti took over in 2024. 

From 2007 to 2011, Cignetti served as Alabama’s wide receivers coach under the great Nick Saban. Cignetti watched Alabama quarterbacks John Parker Wilson, Greg McElroy and A.J. McCarron throw to his receivers every day from practices to games.

“I do think he prepares unlike anybody I’ve ever been around collegiately and at the quarterback position,” Cignetti said of Mendoza. “He wants to be great. His idol was Tom Brady. He’s a real intelligent guy.

”And his preparation is organized and specific and detailed. … And I think he’s made a lot of improvement when you look at him from the first game to where he is now. And he’s played really good at the end of the games, and he’s a warrior.”