The Indiana Hoosiers football team is gearing up for the biggest game in program history, and quarterback Fernando Mendoza is already making headlines before the first snap. As the Hoosiers prepare for Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game against Ohio State, Mendoza’s remarks about Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia have drawn interest across the college football world.

During media availability this week, Mendoza drew attention with his honesty about his admiration for the opposing coordinator. According to 24/7 Sports’s Patrick Murphy, who took to his X (formerly known as Twitter), the redshirt junior praised Patricia while acknowledging the challenge ahead.

“Mendoza said he met Matt Patricia at the Manning Camp a couple of years ago and grew up a Patriots fan, so he’

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