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Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti expressed some frustration with the referees at the College Football Playoff national championship Monday night.
Cignetti spoke with ESPN’s Holly Rowe and was frustrated by the lack of calls against the Miami Hurricanes for hits on Fernando Mendoza. The Heisman Trophy winner was left bloodied after one of the blows he received.
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Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti watches during warmups before the college football national championship game between Miami and Indiana, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
“There are three personal fouls on the quarterback that weren’t called on a series,” Cignetti said. “They need to be called because they are obvious personal fouls. I’m all for letting them play, but when you cross the line, you have to call it. They were black and white penalties.”
Through the blows, Mendoza held on and put Indiana up 10 points at halftime.
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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks to pass against Miami during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
He was 12 of 17 with 116 passing yards.
Indiana’s scoring began in the first quarter with a field goal. Then, with about 6:13 left in the second quarter, Mendoza drove the Hoosiers down the field and handed the ball to Riley Nowakowski to hit. The Hoosiers had a 10-0 lead at the time.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti speaks during a news conference before the College Football Playoff national championship game between Miami and Indiana, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Miami. The game will be played on Monday. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
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The Hurricanes began to find a rhythm late in the first half. But Carter Davis’ field goal attempt went wrong. The Hurricanes only had three first downs despite having the ball for nearly 12 minutes in the half.
