Story byThe Herald TimesMichael Niziolek, The Herald-TimesFri, December 5, 2025 at 8:34 AM UTC·3 min readBLOOMINGTON — Indiana football quarterback Fernando Mendoza has seen enough crossover film of Julian Sayin this season to know he’s the real deal. The two Heisman favorites will meet for the first time on Saturday night in the Big Ten title game when the No. 2 Hoosiers (12-0) face off against Ohio State (12-0). AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile formal introductions will likely have to wait until after the game, Mendoza told reporters earlier this week that he’s excited about the opportunity to play on the same field as the talented redshirt freshman quarterback.“It was a great experience to watch the Ohio State offense, the way that they are calling the plays, their receivers, their entire offense and Julian Sayin as well,” Mendoza said. “I really respect Julian.