A week after Miami fans couldn't stop sharing the old Mark Richt-Malachi Toney photo from a South Florida camp, another full-circle clip is making the rounds ahead of Monday night's College Football Playoff national championship.
Not long ago, Fernando Mendoza was attending football camps at his hometown college... ⏪
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 16, 2026
Now, it’s a full-circle moment as the Indiana QB returns to Miami to face the Hurricanes in the CFP Title Game at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday 🏟️🏆
(Via @305Sportss) pic.twitter.com/woZxlXN0wP
This one features Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, years before the Heisman Trophy, wearing Hurricanes gear at a Miami camp and talking about his experience. Mendoza grew up very close to the University of Miami campus and was a Canes fan during his upbringing.
Mendoza played at Christopher Columbus High School, but never got a scholarship offer from the Hurricanes, even with all the local ties. The previous Miami staff only discussed him as a possible walk-on.
Mendoza completed 224 of 332 passes for 2,222 yards and 29 touchdowns in his high school career and earned first-team All-Dade honors. Despite the production and a 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame, he was considered a two-star/low three-star prospect in the 2022 class, depending on the recruiting service.
Mendoza's mother, Elsa, played tennis at Miami, and his father was a Christopher Columbus teammate of Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal. Cristobal has talked this week about the Columbus bond and the respect he has for the family.
Mendoza thought he was headed to Yale and had committed to the Ivy League program before Cal came in late, got him on a visit, and landed him as a signing-day surprise.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza returns to Miami
Mendoza actually has already played against Miami in his college career. In a late-night game in Berkeley, Mendoza passed for 285 yards and two scores as Cal nearly upset the Hurricanes.
But, this time he enter the matchup as the most efficient quarterback in the country, throwing for 3,349 yards with 41 touchdown passes and six interceptions on the season.
In two CFP games, Mendoza has eight touchdown passes with zero interceptions, including a five-touchdown night in Indiana's 56-22 win over Oregon in the Peach Bowl.
The Hurricanes are playing for their sixth national championship, and first since 2001. Indiana is searching for their first championship in program history.