Story byMAURA CAREYSat, January 17, 2026 at 11:50 PM UTC·3 min readMIAMI (AP) — When Indiana rolled past Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl, it wasn’t Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza or dynamic receiver Elijah Sarratt who was named MVP. Instead, it was center Pat Coogan — one of the five men on the offensive line Mendoza affectionately calls his “Hoggies.” They are responsible for keeping the QB upright and maximizing opportunities for Indiana's skill players. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt was the first time since 1944 that an offensive lineman — typically overlooked and underappreciated — won MVP at the Granddaddy of Them All, and Mendoza was overjoyed when he heard the news. With Indiana hoping to make more history in Monday night's College Football Playoff title game against Miami, Mendoza and his teammates believe the secret to the Hoosiers' success can be found in the trenches — even though only one player, left tackle Carter Smith, gets much buzz as an NFL prospect.“I would die for those guys,” Mendoza said Saturday. “Those guys put their bodies on the line to protect myself or the running backs every single play, and it means so much to not only have great skill and talent but also great character. ...
