Well, who would have thought that an off-hand film study remark from Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza would spark a narrative he never signed up for? After taking down Purdue, Indiana entered the Big 10 championship game against Ohio State. But his praise ahead of the game for Caleb Downs gets twisted into a viral comparison with Tom Brady. Backlash was so swift that national reporter James Boyd had to come in to support him.

“This is a perfect example of why so many athletes don’t trust the media because if you interpreted this answer as #iufb QB Fernando Mendoza comparing himself to Tom Brady and #Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs to Ed Reed—you are being completely disingenuous,” The Athletic’s James Boyd said on X.

This bold remark came in right after Indiana’s quarterback, Fernando

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