Fernando Mendoza’s record-breaking run didn’t stop with college football.
The Indiana Hoosiers quarterback took his momentum to late-night television, appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and quite literally breaking records in the process.
Mendoza joined Fallon on January 22, according to People, to celebrate Indiana’s national championship win, and the segment quickly turned into a playful challenge.
Fallon congratulated Mendoza, replayed the title-clinching touchdown, and asked the quarterback to describe the moment. Mendoza joked that the score felt like being “a human pinball machine,” capturing the chaotic energy of the play that sealed Indiana’s historic season.
Then came the twist. Fallon, leaning into Mendoza’s reputation as a record-setter, challenged him to break “records” in the most literal sense. One by one, Fallon tossed vinyl records into the air, daring Mendoza to smash them mid-flight.
The quarterback delivered, breaking eight out of ten records thrown his way. One toss went astray behind Fallon’s back and didn’t count, but the damage was already done—another undefeated performance, this time under studio lights.
The late-night feat mirrored Mendoza’s dominance on the field. During Indiana’s postseason run, he set Rose Bowl records for completion percentage and passer rating, and earlier in the year broke the program’s single-season touchdown record.
The appearance also capped a whirlwind week for the 22-year-old quarterback. One day after the show aired, Mendoza officially announced he is declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, calling his move to Indiana “a leap of faith” that paid off in ways he couldn’t have imagined.
As much as the spotlight has followed his arm and accolades, Mendoza continues to center his story around family—especially his mother, Elsa Mendoza. Throughout the season and during his Heisman Trophy speech, he’s referred to her as his motivation while she battles multiple sclerosis.
“You’re my life. You’re my why,” Mendoza said on the Heisman stage, crediting her quiet strength for shaping his perspective on toughness and resilience.
That same gratitude carried into his draft announcement, where Mendoza thanked his family, teammates, and coaches for believing in him at every stage.