How Alabama is Preparing to Face Heisman Winner Fernando Mendoza

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama has faced several top quarterbacks this season, including high-velocity passers such as Georgia's Gunner Stockton, Tennessee's Joey Aguilar, and Oklahoma's John Mateer. The Tide will face the toughest quarterback it has so far this season Thursday in the Rose Bowl: Indiana's Fernando Mendoza.

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Mendoza, a former California transfer, won the Heisman Trophy after leading the Hoosiers to a 13-0 season, capped by a Big Ten Championship win against then No. 1 Ohio State. The Hoosiers earned a bye into the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, where they await the Crimson Tide after Alabama's 34-24 victory over Oklahoma in the first round of the playoff.

9-seed Alabama is the underdog on Thursday against the top-seeded Hoosiers, and Alabama will have its back against the wall, as it has so many times this season. How will the Crimson Tide attack the Heisman Trophy winner?

"I mean, I want to stop quarterbacks whether they've won the Heisman Trophy or not," Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said on Sunday. "But certainly if they've won the Heisman, it's a tremendous challenge for us. He's operating at a really high level. He's executing at a really high level.

"So, when you watch the tape, and the challenge really, the rally cry for our guys is you're going to have to operate at a really consistent level, and you're going to have to take away those windows that he's wanting to get the ball to. It's not just the coverage; we have to be able to rush. We've got to be able to affect the quarterback some, and then ultimately, we've got to be able to finish on the ball against a receiving core that, in my mind, has competed for the football at the top of routes all season long. And they tend to step up in big moments."

Wommack will be challenged to scheme up ways to stop Mendoza and the high-powered Hoosier attack, which averages 41.9 points, 251.6 passing yards, and 221.1 rushing yards per game. He won't be the one wearing the shoulder pads and taking the force of the hits, however. That honor goes to the Crimson Tide defenders, so how do they plan to slow down Mendoza?

"He's a man, just like me, of course, but he's a great Heisman winner," defensive tackle Tim Keenan III said. "He's put himself in a position to achieve that accolade. We're going to make sure that we do what we need to do. Play our game and go in. They're a very efficient offense, so we've just got to make sure that we do what we need to do."

"I mean, we've just been working on the plays that we've put in. Doing our one-eleventh on the edge and staying home," Wolf linebacker Yhonzae Pierre said. "We're fired up every week to do our job, most definitely, as a defense. We're just trying to be as disciplined as possible to stop him, stop the run, stop the pass, and shut him out."

"Heisman winner, definitely the best quarterback we've faced all year. He could put the ball anywhere on the field, and he just puts stress on us," cornerback Zabien Brown said. "As you play in the game, getting pressure on him, playing complementary with our front and the backend, and just trust what you see in the film room."

Through 13 games this season, Mendoza has completed 71.5% of his passes for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns. He's also added 240 yards and six scores on the ground.

Alabama will face No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Thursday, January 1, 2026, in Pasadena, California. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CT.

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Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.