January is the biggest time of the year for football fans, especially in the United States, but this season’s fairytale story carries a different dimension. Beneath the spectacle of the Super Bowl, which takes place Feb. 8, is a college football narrative shaped not only by talent and perseverance, but by Catholic faith and public religious witness.
That witness has unfolded within the familiar rhythms of American football culture — the NCAA college playoffs and bowl games culminating in the national championship game played on Monday, Jan. 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
While you might think that NFL viewership would dwarf the NCAA version, the reality is more complicated. College football appeals to alumni and historically has carried a strong amateur identity, although this has changed in recent years. Universities in the U.S. get huge crowds for games, with some bigger programs getting larger home game attendance than the actual population of the town.
Keeping this in mind, this year’s championship game pitted the University of Indiana against the University of Miami, in what ended up being a close battle won by Indiana. The quarterback and leader of the winning team is Fernando Mendoza, who refers to himself as “a Catholic man.” The whole season for Indiana was a story that surely movies will be made about someday.
Coming into the 2025–26 season, the Hoosiers football program had suffered more losses in its history than any other Division I team. Their coach had a losing record at the school, and Mendoza himself had been cast off from the University of California Golden Bears. This season, the team went undefeated and won the national title.
At the centre of that turnaround was the “Catholic man,” who also won the Heisman Trophy as the most valuable player in college football. As an added twist, Mendoza’s brother Alberto served as his backup quarterback at Indiana this year.
Although born in America, the young phenom is of Cuban heritage and says his main motivations for pushing hard in football were his mother Elsa, who is in a wheelchair suffering from multiple sclerosis, and his Cuban heritage.
“My Mom is my inspiration,” he told the National Catholic Register. “There is no excuse for complacency when you see what she fights through every day.”
When family members watch a game with her, they remain seated to cheer, refusing to stand up because she cannot. “My family is very Catholic,” he said. “I have them as role models. They always circle back to their faith and how much God has done in their lives. They built me long before football did.”
Fernando is openly Catholic. He speaks and lives his faith, attending daily Mass. He loves the Rosary, coordinates team Bible studies, is involved at the campus Newman Centre, and maintains close friendships with the Dominican priests at the university.
“They have done so much to help me, whether it is confession or Mass or being there to talk,” he said.
On Christmas Eve, he made a point of bringing his Heisman Trophy to the priests’ residence. Father Patrick Hyde said the priests were overjoyed at having the trophy there. He spoke about Fernando’s humility: “He is just another person at Mass praying. His steadfastness has been a witness to our community.”
Reflecting that humility, Mendoza said, “I have many flaws; the only person who is perfect is my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.” [Church Pop]
Fernando has had setbacks in life, including his mother’s health and his early college failures, but he has continued to feel God’s presence. “I am always thankful for having God on my side. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to chase a dream that once felt a world away,” he told EWTN UK.
“I want every kid who feels overlooked to know that I was you; I was in your shoes,” he said on an Instagram post.
Many college fans on social media have praised him for his public profession of faith, with comments like “I am not even an Indiana fan but I might be now,” “Too cool,” and “I love the way Fernando Mendoza handles himself.”
Indeed, Mendoza’s success against all odds, along with his “humility, gratitude and responsibility have made this a historic moment for the Lord.” [Church Pop]
On a lighter note, the Seattle Seahawks will play in the Super Bowl on Feb. 8, keeping a unique tradition alive. Every year a new Pope has been elected in the 21st century, the Seahawks have reached the championship.
2005–06 season: Pope Benedict XVI, 2005
2013–14 season: Pope Francis, 2013
2025–26 season: Pope Leo XIV, 2025
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