Mendoza's 4 TD passes power No. 23 Indiana to a 569 rout of Kennesaw State MARK AMBROGI September 7, 2025 at 5:49 AM 0 1 / 5Kennesaw St Indiana FootballIndiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) is tackled by Kennesaw State defensive lineman Marcus Patterson (6) during the first half of an NCAA colle...
- - Mendoza's 4 TD passes power No. 23 Indiana to a 56-9 rout of Kennesaw State
MARK AMBROGI September 7, 2025 at 5:49 AM
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1 / 5Kennesaw St Indiana FootballIndiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) is tackled by Kennesaw State defensive lineman Marcus Patterson (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza threw for four touchdowns to lead No. 23 Indiana to a 56-9 rout of Kennesaw State on Saturday.
Mendoza, a transfer from University of California, completed 18 of 25 passes for 245 yards. He threw scoring passes of 3, 9 and 20 yards to Elijah Sarratt and an 8-yard strike to E.J. Williams early in the fourth quarter.
The Hoosiers held the Owls to two field goals in the first half and led 21-6 at the break. Kennesaw State's Daniel Kinney finished with field goals of 28, 29 and 50 yards.
Indiana scored on a 1-yard run by Riley Nowakowski and an 11-yard run by Lee Beebe Jr. in the first half to go with the first of Sarratt's TD catches. Beebe finished with a team-best 90 rushing yards on 11 carries.
The takeaway
Kennesaw State: The Owls lost to their second consecutive Power 4 opponent after falling 10-9 at Wake Forest in the opener. This loss was more lopsided as the Owls managed just three field goals. Amari Odom completed 10 of 16 passes for 176 yards.
Indiana: The Hoosiers, who saw their ranking drop three spots to No. 23 following a closer-than-expected 27-14 victory over Old Dominion, should maintain their ranking with a convincing victory. Indiana didn't commit a turnover and was penalized just three times. Indiana held a 593-271 edge in total yards.
Brotherly sub
Fernando Mendoza, a redshirt junior, was relieved by his younger brother, Alberto Mendoza, during a fourth quarter drive. Alberto, a redshirt freshman, tossed his first career TD pass, a 6-yarder to Charlie Becker. Alberto completed all three of his passes for 35 yards.
A little trickery
Following a fumble recovery, Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. scored on a 75-yard run on an end-around on the next play. Cooper had a key 40-yard catch on the Hoosiers' first TD drive.
Up next
Kennesaw State: Hosts Merrimack next Saturday.
Indiana; Hosts Indiana State on Friday night.
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