Fernando Mendoza late hit sparks controversy on first play of Big Ten Championship originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Ohio State defensive end Caden Curry set an immediate tone in the Big Ten Championship Game on the opening snap. He delivered a clear late hit on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The play drew a loud reaction clear reaction from the Indiana sideline, but no flag was thrown.Mendoza stayed on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf for a brief moment before slowly getting to his feet and heading to the sideline. He missed one play before returning, but the no-call shows a chippy opening sequence that starts a physical night in Indy. Caden Curry just sat Fernando Mendoza down first play of the game pic.twitter.com/jQdTbunWqs— wok (@dontsipwok) December 7, 2025Indiana capitalized on the early emotion. After the Hoosiers’ initial drive stalled, Ohio State freshman quarterback Julian Sayin took the field for his first series and IU quickly seized momentum. Sayin was intercepted by defensive back Louis Moore, who jumped the route and gave Indiana prime field position deep in Buckeyes territory.Although Ohio State’s defense held firm, the turnover still produced points. The Hoosiers converted the takeaway into a 29-yard field goal by kicker Nico Radicic, giving Indiana a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.For a heavy underdog seeking its first Big Ten title since 1967, the early sequence of a missed penalty, a defensive spark and a quick lead provided a jolt. More college football news: Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coachVirginia Tech reportedly funding roster near top of ACC for James FranklinLeaked NSFW audio exposes Penn State AD Pat Kraft’s identity crisis in Happy ValleyDiego Pavia asks Donald Trump to fix the College Football Playoff