Fernando Mendoza-to-Elijah Sarratt back-shoulder throws emulate this NFL duo

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How do you defend the indefensible?

That’s what those back-shoulder throws from Fernando Mendoza to Elijah Sarratt have been this season for Indiana. Just ask Oregon. A back-shoulder toss in the end zone was the game-winner in the regular-season matchup, and the Hoosiers duo went back to the well a few times in Indiana’s Peach Bowl romp over the Ducks.

The game-winner in the Big Ten Championship game against Ohio State was also one of those patented back-shoulder throws.

With Mendoza’s supreme accuracy and Sarratt’s body control and strong hands, defenders don’t stand a chance. Those throws take perfect timing and plenty of practice. And the pair have drawn inspiration from one of the NFL’s top duos of the past 10 years.

National championship predictions: Will Indiana or Miami win CFP title game?

“It was Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, to be specific,” Sarratt said this week ahead of Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship game. “Since I’ve been watching Davante Adams and since he’s been with Aaron Rodgers, he’s done a great job of getting the release off the ball, and then around 12, 14 yards, Aaron Rodgers just throwing a laser and just falls out and it drops in the bucket.

“I tend to win off the line more times than not, so I felt like I had a good chance of it. Now, I know, like, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, that’s a whole ‘nother level that I someday pray I can reach to.

“But Fernando, he was with it on that, same day after practice, we got a couple reps in, just trying to work it, be similar with how they were looking with it, and just went from there. And then just communication after that. I try not to be picky, I just try to tell him let me get my hands on it, and he does a great job putting it on the money, and we just go from there.”

Mendoza leads the nation with 41 passing touchdowns and Sarratt has a nation-leading 15 scoring grabs. That duo figures to be a key for Miami to try and slow down if the Hurricanes are going to have a chance at the upset.

Fernando Mendoza stats

This season, Mendoza has completed 257 of 352 passes (73%) for 3,349 yards and a NCAA-best 41 touchdowns to just six interceptions. In the CFP, he has eight touchdown passes to just five incompletions.

He can also hurt you with his legs. He’s rushed for 284 yards this season and six touchdowns.

Elijah Sarratt stats

The receiver nicknamed “Waffle House” because he’s always open has been one of Fernando Mendoza’s security blankets.

Sarratt has 62 catches this season for 802 yards (12.9 yards per catch) and has a nation-leading 15 touchdowns this season despite missing a few games to injury.

He has four touchdown passes this postseason, including the game-winner in the Big Ten Championship against Ohio State.

When, where is CFP national championship game?

  • Date: Monday, Jan. 19
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)

The 2026 CFP national championship game is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Monday, Jan. 19. The national title game will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, which is coincidentally the home stadium for the Hurricanes. The venue is also home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fernando Mendoza, Elijah Sarratt try to copy Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams

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