Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza delivered an apologetic message to sports bettors following his Hoosiers’ 20-15 win against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Mendoza said he was sorry for blowing Indiana’s chance at covering the spread as he ran into his own end zone for a safety during the final seconds of Saturday’s contest.
Key Takeaways
- Mendoza’s safety helped kill the clock to guarantee a win over Iowa.
- The spread opened at IU -7.5 and closed at -8.5.
- The second-half spread for the contest was Indiana -5.5.
Sportsbooks had Indiana favored by about 7.5 points ahead of their Big Ten clash with Iowa.
The Hoosiers found themselves up 20-13 late in the fourth quarter after they’d just gone 76 yards in five plays on the prior possession. With 0:03 remaining on fourth down, Indiana snapped the ball to Mendoza, who wheeled and sprinted 40 yards into his own end zone before sliding down for a safety.
This Indiana intentional safety might be important to you or someone you know pic.twitter.com/lFmaMRXdvP
— Barstool Gambling (@stoolgambling) September 27, 2025
The savvy play call by IU coach Curt Cignetti allowed the Hoosiers to kill the clock without letting Iowa touch the ball and get one final chance to tie or win the game. However, it also meant that the Hoosiers only won by five points and that Iowa covered the spread.
While the play didn’t make a difference on the 7.5-point, the second-half spread was Indiana -5.5. It also cost bettors who bought down or found the line at seven or 6.5 points.
“I know I shouldn't be saying this, but I know I probably cooked people's spreads, and I really apologize for that, however, in that moment my goal is to win the game,” Mendoza said during his post-game press conference. “For us, we're always looking for the Indiana moneyline, which is a win.”
Fernando Mendoza apologizes for the final play safety:
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) September 28, 2025
“I know I shouldn't be saying this, but I probably cooked people's spreads, and I apologize for that, but my job is to win the game."
pic.twitter.com/fighOsgHyT
Public reaction
The NCAA has a strict policy with student-athletes, coaches, and team personnel that firmly forbids them from participating in sports betting of any kind.
Despite the industry’s rapid growth, the NCAA’s stance on gambling has made it taboo for participating members of its competitions. Comments directly addressing gambling odds – like the one shared by Mendoza – are rarely made due to the cloud of controversy they can invite.
BetMGM sportsbook reported that Indiana received the fifth-most spread bets of all college football teams in action over the weekend. Also, 72% of tickets and 85% of the handle for the game were on Indiana to cover.
However, those bets ranged from -7.5 at opening to -8.5 at closing and were unaffected by the final play.
Mendoza slips in Heisman race
Saturday’s events weren’t just important for one-off Indiana bettors. Those with a vested interest in the team and their star quarterback were dealt a blow as Mendoza fell in Heisman Trophy odds.
Mendoza, who went 13-23 for 233 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, slid to fourth in the odds race. He was the Heisman favorite entering play on the weekend.
Oregon’s Dante Moore is the new Heisman favorite, followed by Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith Jr. and Miami’s Carson Beck. Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss is also quickly making up ground.
