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Saturday’s Big Ten championship game between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana has no shortage of storylines. But, the matchup will carry added weight for Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Ohio State head coach Ryan Day.
Mendoza’s magical season has propelled the redshirt junior to the top of the Heisman Trophy conversation and undefeated Indiana (12-0) into its first Big Ten title game during the best season in program history. He took an unconventional path to get here after three years at Cal, but the decision to transfer may have changed the Heisman hopeful’s career forever.
“My goals and aspirations were to be in the NFL,” Mendoza told FOX Sports’ Jenny Taft in an interview prior the Big Ten title game. “A lot of the NFL scouts said [I was] fairly uncooked, ‘You continue to have a protracted solution to go.’ And, at that time, I wished to take a danger and ensure that I depart nothing on the desk. I knew that if I had been to be right here, I’d develop and turn out to be the most effective quarterback that I can turn out to be this season.”
Heading into Saturday, the stakes could not be greater for Mendoza and the Hoosiers, and the standout quarterback understood it can take a concerted effort so as to add one other memorable second to a memorable yr.
“To be within the ring, within the heavyweight title, it will take all the pieces,” stated Mendoza. “What an excellent alternative for a bunch of misfits who weren’t presupposed to be right here within the first place, everybody counted out. And, then now, having an opportunity to win the Massive Ten championship.”
For Day, Saturday’s contest additionally represents an enormous alternative to place a stamp on a particular season, but in addition place Ohio State for a shot at back-to-back nationwide titles.
Profitable the Massive Ten following final weekend’s decisive win over Michigan would add to Day’s spectacular run of success with the Buckeyes. Having the possibility to maintain constructing and rising together with his workforce, nonetheless, is what Day instructed FOX Sports activities’ Tom Rinaldi issues most.
“When it is all stated and finished, and so they’re at our funerals, they don’t seem to be going to speak about wins and losses – they’ll speak concerning the affect you had on individuals,” he stated.
After all, falling to Indiana and never having the ability to declare the highest seed within the School Soccer Playoff could be an enormous disappointment for Day’s Buckeyes. And, you possibly can relaxation assured, they’ve each intention of giving it their all in, arguably, one of many largest video games in Massive Ten historical past.
“Whenever you’re chasing what we’re chasing,” stated Day, “We imagine that not solely will it give us an opportunity to win the Massive Ten and attain our objectives, however it provides us a greater probability to win the nationwide championship.”
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