Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Tom Dierberger

College Football World Loved Indiana’s Surprise Winner of Rose Bowl MVP

Pat Coogan Fernando Mendoza Indiana Football Rose Bowl (Event) Hoosiers Curt Cignetti Alabama (Organization)

Everything is coming up Indiana these days.

Once the laughingstock of college football normally dwelling in the Big Ten’s basement, Indiana has risen to national powerhouse in just two years. Led by coach Curt Cignetti, the No. 1 Hoosiers easily handled No. 9 Alabama 38–3 on Thursday night in the Rose Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals.

To make a great story even better, the Rose Bowl Offensive MVP award was given to a very deserving Hoosiers player—but not the one you’d think. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza threw for 192 yards and three touchdowns in the blowout win, but the award instead went to Hoosiers redshirt senior center Pat Coogan and the rest of the offensive line.

Mendoza and the rest of the Hoosiers on the stage at Rose Bowl Stadium erupted in celebration after ESPN’s Rece Davis announced Coogan as the winner.

“It’s unreal. ... I’m sure Fernando snuck in there and told him to give it to me because he’s that type of guy,” Coogan told Sirius XM after the game.

The rest of the college football and sports world loved the move:

What a moment.

After the win, Indiana now advances to the Peach Bowl to battle No. 5 Oregon in the CFP semifinals.

One more win, and the Hoosiers are playing for a national championship. Somehow, that’s a more improbable statement than an offensive lineman winning MVP in a bowl game.

More College Football on Sports Illustrated


This article was originally published on www.si.com as College Football World Loved Indiana’s Surprise Winner of Rose Bowl MVP.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Cher Broke One of Design’s Biggest Rules in Her ’60s Living Room – Somehow, It Works
Two colors that should ‘never be seen’ come together on the goddess of pop's sofa in a surprisingly beautiful celebration of analogous shades
Homes & Gardens
Homes & Gardens
Songs about new beginnings – ranked!
From CMAT and the Carpenters’ fresh starts to the Beatles’ Here Comes the Sun and Nina Simone’s Feeling Good, starting again is a rich theme in pop. Here are some of the best examples
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Why New Year’s resolutions might feel harder this year – and what could help
The start of a new year has long been considered an important moment for personal change. Psychological research shows that calendar landmarks such as birthdays, Mondays or the new year can act as mental reset points, making people more likely to reflect on their lives and attempt new goals. This…
The Conversation
The Conversation
Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem shredded after dancing to ‘Ice Ice Baby’ at Trump’s New Year’s Eve Party
“This is what I imagine hell is like,” wrote one user, while another wrote, “Cringe af.”
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
‘No one can know’: Heated Rivalry’s gay love story exposes ice hockey’s culture of silence
As Heated Rivalry finds a wide audience, ice hockey’s uneasy relationship with Pride and openness looks increasingly out of step
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Was Joe Keery In Maroon 5? Surprising Detail About Stranger Things' Beloved Character You Might Not Know
Joe Keery was never a member of Maroon 5. The Stranger Things star played in Post Animal and now releases solo music as Djo, separate from Adam Levine's band.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play