Fernando Mendoza (Image Credits: Imagn)

Jason Whitlock Rips Ex-Football Coach Over Career-Threatening Jab at Fernando Mendoza

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Vipul Dhawas | Last updated Jan 21, 2026 1:28 PM ET

The Indiana Hoosiers have stamped their authority across the NCAA by winning the CFP National Championship, and a large part of the credit has gone to Fernando Mendoza. However, not everyone is convinced. There is a section that believes the Heisman winner is more overhyped than elite.

Mendoza was outstanding for most of the season, but in the CFP National Championship against Miami, he initially looked like an average quarterback. That game-winning touchdown in the final nine minutes may have overshadowed his shaky start, but it did not go unnoticed by Jason Brown.

Former Football Coach took a sharp jab at the Indiana Hoosiers QB with a brutal remark. Jason Brown said, “I can’t wait for Friday to cook all the Mendoza fan boys after watching him play real dudes and realizing I’ve been right the whole time and how both of yall been horribly wrong the whole time. Worst heisman trophy winner in last 25 years.”

Jason Brown’s criticism did not sit well with Jason Whitlock, and he stepped in to defend Fernando Mendoza. Whitlock said, “Stop the hate, JB!”

Stop the hate, JB! https://t.co/ER7cpMDStU
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) January 21, 2026

It was quite surprising to see this kind of response from Jason Whitlock, because anyone who knows him well understands that when he goes after someone, he usually does not hold back with his words.

In this case, though, Whitlock seemed to show a noticeably softer side. It felt like Fernando Mendoza was someone he genuinely respected.

Is Fernando Mendoza Overhyped or Just Misunderstood as a QB

Fernando Mendoza (Image Credits: Imagn)

In sports, especially in gridiron sports, fans and analysts freely express their views, and opinions naturally differ. Fernando Mendoza, this season, is not only a Heisman Trophy title winner but also a national champion.

The 22-year-old QB recorded 41 touchdowns, 3,535 yards, and just six interceptions, numbers that clearly reflect his quality. Achieving those figures is not an ordinary feat, especially while playing in the Big Ten Conference, which has the national title back-to-back for the third time.

Looking at Indiana’s season as a whole, neither the team’s performances nor their quarterback’s numbers suggest that the Hoosiers’ QB is an overhyped player in any way. Jason Brown has labeled Fernando Mendoza as overhyped, underscoring that opinions will always differ.

Jason Whitlock, however, understands that this claim on Indiana superstar athletes does not align with reality. The Heisman Trophy and a national championship alone are strong enough evidence that Mendoza is far from overhyped.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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