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Is Fernando Mendoza religious? The Indiana quarterback’s relationship with his Catholic faith

Is Fernando Mendoza religious? The Indiana quarterback’s relationship with his Catholic faith

From weekly Mass to pregame prayers, faith has been central in Mendoza’s life, which he hasn’t hesitated to share while in the spotlight.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza holds the trophy after their win against Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza holds the trophy after their win against Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. | Lynne Sladky

From weekly Mass to pregame prayers, faith has been central in Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s life, which he hasn’t hesitated to share while in the spotlight this season.

Minutes after winning Indiana its first national championship Monday night, Mendoza stood on the field at Hard Rock Stadium with ESPN’s Holly Rowe.

Mendoza quickly brought up his faith in his first answer in his interview with Rowe.

“First, I want to give all the glory to God,” he said.

The Heisman-winning quarterback then gave “all the glory to God” again as he recounted his journey as a 2-star recruit out of high school who was “declined a walk-on offer” by his hometown University of Miami, whom he and Indiana beat 27-21 Monday.

What Fernando Mendoza has said about his faith in God and Jesus Christ

Mendoza is a devout Catholic, who has immersed himself in the Saint Paul Catholic Center community in his time at Indiana University.

“The only reason I’ve gotten to this point is because there’s so many different people helping me in my journey, and (the Saint Paul priests) have been one,” Mendoza told Sports Illustrated. “They’ve done so much to help me, whether it’s confession or just to be able to talk or just Mass every Sunday. So I really give a lot that I have accomplished this season to the Lord, and we give thanks to God.”

In his Heisman acceptance speech in December, Mendoza thanked God for “the opportunity to chase a dream that once felt a world away,“ as the Deseret News previously reported.

He continued to share his faith in his press conference following the Heisman ceremony.

“My faith is a huge component and maybe the sole reason why I got here,” he said. “All the bumps and bruises and the path that God has laid out for me, I wouldn’t want it any other way.

“Building that faith throughout college and now to be able to share my faith with these amazing teammates and just the community of faith, realizing having God on my side, always praising Jesus Christ, it’s incredible. I can’t thank the man above enough.”

Fernando Mendoza’s viral Heisman Saint Paul visit

On Christmas Eve, Mendoza expressed his gratitude for Saint Paul Catholic Center by bringing the Heisman Trophy to the church to show Father Patrick Hyde and the other priests.

Mendoza had texted Father Hyde and said he wanted to stop by with the trophy before Christmas, but Father Hyde didn’t think the visit would actually happen, he told WISH-TV in December.

But Mendoza followed through on his offer.

“It was just so surreal because it was so normal, just sharing in the joy and the glory of an accomplishment of one of our people,” Father Hyde said.

Leading up to the Peach Bowl, a reporter asked Mendoza why he brought the trophy to the priests at Saint Paul.

“I’m a Catholic man, and they’ve done so much for me, whether it’s confession or just being able to talk or just Mass every Sunday,” he said. “So I really give a lot of that I have accomplished this season in my life to the Lord. I really give thanks to God and for example, the Heisman.

“It’s the first thing I said in the Heisman speech is ‘give all glory to God,’ like ‘thank you so much to God.’ And so I think it was really important to take it over to those guys, especially those guys who have been great religious mentors to myself.”

Following Monday’s national championship win, Mendoza celebrated with Father Hyde on the field.

Does Fernando Mendoza pray before games?

Before kickoff on Monday, Mendoza was seen praying in the end zone with some of his Hoosiers teammates.

Pregame prayers are a part of Mendoza’s gameday routine, he revealed in his Peach Bowl availability.

“Pregame, I honestly don’t listen to hype songs ‘cause I got to stay calm, cool and collected. I actually meditate before the game. I meditate, I pray, and I think praying is, in a way, mediation to help myself be in my thoughts and being able to execute the plan as quarterback is a cerebral position,” he said.

Mendoza is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, whose front office, including Tom Brady, was on hand for the national championship.

Category: General Sports

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