At Fernando Mendoza's high school, students are 'torn' on who to root for in the national title game
- - At Fernando Mendoza's high school, students are 'torn' on who to root for in the national title game
Jesse KirschJanuary 19, 2026 at 5:18 AM
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Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza in Atlanta on Jan. 9. (Dale Zanine / Imagn Images)
MIAMI — About five miles from the University of Miami’s campus, many students at Christopher Columbus High School were unsurprisingly decked out in orange and green on Friday as the hometown Hurricanes prepared to play Indiana in Monday’s college football national championship. Some, however, opted for crimson.
Dave Dunn wouldn’t choose either.
“Even my daughter tried to get an answer out of me, and I wouldn’t give her one,” Dunn, Columbus’ football coach, told NBC News.
How could he? Five of Dunn’s former players — all of whom have a high school state championship ring — are on Monday night’s rosters; three for Miami and two for Indiana. And one of those is the Hoosiers’ star quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
This season, he won the Heisman Trophy after taking the Hoosiers to an undefeated record and leading the nation with 33 passing touchdowns. Coming out of high school, though, he wasn’t the most sought-after player by colleges.
“He was a lightly recruited player and just worked his tail off,” Dunn said of Mendoza, who transferred from Cal last offseason. “And I think it shows our guys, ‘Hey, listen, people might not believe in you. But if you believe in yourself, and you work as hard as you possibly can, and you pour everything you have into the sport of football, you can achieve goals you never dreamed of.’”
Christopher Columbus High School football coach Dave Dunn. (NBC News)
That message resonates with current Columbus players like 18-year-old senior Sam Barreiro.
“There were some guys like [backup quarterback] Alberto [Mendoza] and Fernando that weren’t too highly ranked, they weren’t one of the top athletes in the nation,” said Barreiro. “It inspires me that the hard work can really get you what you’re dreaming for.”
Like Dunn, Barreiro is not picking sides.
“I was literally on the field with these guys a couple of years ago, playing on the same team, and I get to watch [them on] national television,” he said. “It makes me proud because … those are my friends.”
But other Columbus students were willing to plant the flag. Some sported what they called “Heisman-Doza gear.” Another teen donned orange and green-striped overalls. In the school cafeteria, there were more Miami fans than Indiana ones, but both universities were represented.
Sitting side by side having lunch were juniors Sergio Espinosa, wearing a “Mendoza Mania” hoodie, and Ryan Badillo, in a Canes jersey. Espinosa said things can get a little heated among friends when discussing Monday’s matchup.
A sign outside Columbus High School. (NBC News)
“I’m a lifelong Hurricanes fan so it’s heartbreaking,” Badillo said. “We haven’t been good for the past couple years, and seeing them making this is phenomenal.”
But if things go poorly for the Canes, Badillo said he’ll still be excited for the Mendoza brothers.
“I’ll be happy, but I’ll be a little torn.”
And if you had any doubt where all roads lead Monday, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal even played at Columbus in the 1980s. His teammate? Fernando Mendoza Sr.
“They always pushed each other. Mario wanted to be better than Fernando and vice versa,” recalled John Lynskey, Columbus’ former linebacker coach. “And together they were a couple very, very powerful guys. Lots of fights out there because of those guys.”
Now, Cristobal is coaching against his high school teammate’s sons.
Fernando Mendoza celebrates with Elijah Sarratt after connecting for a touchdown in Atlanta on Jan. 9. (Grace Hollars / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Mendoza was asked Saturday about playing for a national title in his hometown.
“It’s great for the Christopher Columbus community,” he said at a press conference in Miami Beach. “We have so many great individuals in that community that really are built from the same cloth, are built from that gritty structure.”
On Monday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the Mendozas or Cristobal can claim the national championship on the field. But back at their high school alma mater, there’s a different take.
Lynskey pointed to the Columbus logo on his shirt: “There’s your winner right there.”
Source: “AOL Sports”
