The College Football Playoff final in Miami turned tense early on Monday night when Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza became the target of a shocking hit from Miami Hurricanes’ Jakobe Thomas.
Fans across social media erupted in outrage as they watched the late and violent collision unfold on the field.
During the first quarter, Mendoza faked a run before handing the ball to a teammate.
But as he stepped left, Thomas delivered a helmet-to-facemask hit that left Mendoza crumpled on the turf.
When he managed to get up, blood was visibly streaming from his mouth, leaving fans and commentators stunned.
Social Media Erupts Over Miami’s Play
Dave Portnoy led the charge on X, posting: “Apparently refs are gonna let Miami obliterate Mendoza with cheap shots.”
His post captured the anger felt by many viewers who described the play as reckless and unsportsmanlike.
Fans didn’t hold back. One wrote, “Jakobe Thomas is a thug that has zero future in this world. Classy as always.”
Another added, “Miami resorting to cheap shots on Mendoza. Classy as always.”
Comments poured in highlighting the late nature of the hit and criticizing officials for not intervening: “How do they let Mendoza get sucker-punched with a helmet? That was a blatant miss. Dirty play,” one fan wrote.
Others worried about Mendoza’s ability to finish the game, speculating that someone was intentionally targeting him.
Indiana Coach Slams Officials
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti didn’t hold back either.
At halftime, he publicly condemned the referees for missing three “obvious” calls against his quarterback in a single drive.
Despite the controversy, Mendoza and the Hoosiers had a strong first half, taking a 10-0 lead thanks to Riley Nowakowski’s touchdown midway through the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium.
Star-Studded Crowd Watches the Action
Adding to the spectacle, the stadium was filled with high-profile attendees, including President Donald Trump and NFL legend Tom Brady.
Trump arrived to a loud cheer and was accompanied by family members, including Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner with their sons Joseph Frederick and Theo James, granddaughter Kai with Vanessa Trump, and Lara Trump with her daughter Carolina.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also joined the VIP crowd and was even seen walking on the field before kickoff.
From his bulletproof glass suite, Trump waved to fans and received another rousing ovation when shown on the stadium big screen during the American national anthem.
The Game Goes On Amid Controversy
Despite the intense reactions and criticism of the referees, the game continued, with Mendoza and Indiana showing resilience on the field.
Fans are now watching closely to see whether the Hoosiers can maintain their lead and how the officials will handle the remaining high-stakes moments.
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