Why QB's Dad Sits During Championship: A Love Story

When 22-year-old Fernando Mendoza takes the field Monday night for the College Football Playoff National Championship, his father will be watching from his seat. He won't stand to cheer, not even if his son throws the winning touchdown.

Fernando Mendoza Sr. made a conscious choice 15 years ago. When his wife Elsa was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, he decided he would always stay by her side, even during the biggest moments of their son's incredible rise to stardom.

"It means a lot to him, always staying by my mom's side," Mendoza told ESPN. "My mom has taught me so much, my father's taught me so much about love as well. Everybody has their why and my mom is my why."

The quarterback's journey from overlooked recruit to Heisman Trophy winner already reads like a Hollywood script. Rated the 2,149th player in the country as a two-star recruit, he started at Cal before transferring to Indiana and becoming the projected number one pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

This season alone, Mendoza threw for 3,349 yards and 41 touchdowns with just six interceptions. He won every major award and led the Hoosiers to a perfect 15-0 record heading into Monday's game against Miami.

But his interviews have captured hearts beyond the statistics. Mendoza brings an authenticity and passion that reminds fans why they love sports in the first place.

Why This Inspires

The image of a father choosing to sit speaks louder than any touchdown celebration. In a sport where standing, cheering, and fist-pumping define fandom, Fernando Sr. shows that real devotion looks different.

His quiet presence beside Elsa transforms every game into something bigger than football. It's a weekly reminder that the greatest victories happen off the field, in the small choices we make to honor the people we love.

Monday's game carries extra meaning for the Miami native who grew up attending Hurricanes games. Now he faces his hometown team playing for Indiana's first national championship in program history, with the chance to complete the first 16-0 season in FBS history.

When the final whistle blows at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, win or lose, one thing is certain: Fernando Mendoza Sr. will still be sitting right beside Elsa, exactly where love has kept him for 15 years.