Indiana football's Fernando Mendoza, Oregon's Dante Moore talk rematch
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ATLANTA — The Peach Bowl will make it easy on NFL personnel looking to scout the country’s top two quarterbacks.
They will be on the same field Friday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta with Indiana football’s Fernando Mendoza facing off against Oregon’s Dante Moore in a CFP semifinals game.
The quarterbacks both have eligibility left but are currently the top two picks on most prominent mock drafts, and the Hoosiers have already lined up Mendoza’s potential successor by landing a commitment from TCU’s Josh Hoover.
“At the end of the day, when I started football at 4 years old, everybody’s goal was to get into the National Football League,” Moore said. “There’s going to be all these things going on. I’m human; I see it on social media. But I told myself that I shouldn’t be engaging with it because if I do, I’m thinking about myself and I’m not thinking about the 10 other guys on the field with me.”
Mendoza has sidestepped questions about his own future going back to the Heisman ceremony when he fielded a series of question from New York media about possibly playing for the Jets.
This will be the third game between the quarterbacks who initially faced off while both wearing different uniforms early in their career and playing in the final Pac-12 after dark game.
As Cal’s then-starting quarterback, Mendoza threw for 178 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 33-7 win over UCLA. Moore, who was a true freshman starter for the Bruins, had 266 yards passing (23 of 38) with a touchdown and two interceptions.
“To see both him and myself grow through this journey has been super special, he’s a great guy,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza’s scouting report was in line with the praise he’s given each of the recent fellow former 5-star quarterbacks (Julian Sayin and Ty Simpson) he’s faced.
“He is a fantastic quarterback, he is one of the best college quarterbacks, for sure, no doubt this season,” Mendoza said.
Moore was as much in the Heisman conversation as Mendoza back in October, but his heroics in IU’s 30-20 win over the Ducks at Autzen Stadium helped solidify his status as the early frontrunner for the award.
While Mendoza threw a pick-six in the fourth quarter, he was near perfect on the Hoosiers’ ensuing 12-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a picture perfect back-shoulder throw for the go-ahead score to Elijah Sarratt.
Their overall numbers weren’t that far apart, but the clutch drives added up for Mendoza as IU finished the regular season as one of only two undefeated teams left in the FBS. Mendoza goes into the Peach Bowl with 3,172 yards passing (72.3%) with 36 touchdowns while Moore has 3,280 yards (72.9%) and 28 touchdowns.
“I gotta give Fernando his credit, he’s had a hell of a year,” Moore said. “He’s somebody that works his tail off. Very smart quarterback; talented quarterback.”
The two have a mutual respect for each other with Moore even going out of his way to praise Mendoza’s candor away from the field and commitment to his faith.
“I think the thing I take away from him is he gives the glory to God, through his success, through his accolades, through his wins,” Moore said. “He always gives time to glorify God. And that’s something I appreciate and respect towards him.”
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Indiana football’s Fernando Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore talk rematch
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