Indiana’s season remains perfect, thanks to what will be remembered as one of the best touchdowns of the 2025 college football season.
Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza connected with Omar Cooper Jr., who made a leaping, toe-tapping catch in the back of the end zone with 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter. This incredible play led Indiana to a 27-24 win over Penn State in Happy Valley on Saturday.
The touchdown capped off an impressive 10-play, 73-yard drive that helped No. 2 Indiana avoid an upset on the road against a struggling 3-6 Penn State team. Indiana had led 20-10 going into the final quarter, but with 6:27 left, Penn State scored its second touchdown of the frame to take a four-point lead.
The Hoosiers got one final chance with 1:51 remaining. Even after taking a sack on the first play of the drive, Mendoza led an extraordinary two-minute drill. He completed critical passes of 29 and 17 yards, the latter caught on a leaping grab along the near sideline by Charlie Becker, which set up Indiana at the Penn State 7-yard line.
After two back-to-back incompletions, Mendoza and Cooper created magic. Mendoza fired a third-down pass high so that only Cooper could catch it. Despite Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley draped all over him, Cooper managed to get his foot down inbounds. After review, the call was upheld, giving the Hoosiers the go-ahead touchdown.
“Touchdown, wow!” exclaimed Fox announcer Gus Johnson before calling the catch “unbelievable,” nearly losing his voice in the process. Analyst Joel Klatt added, “Oh my gosh! That is the best catch I’ve seen all season long.”
Penn State got the ball back but failed to respond after four plays, allowing Indiana to keep its magical season rolling.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/08/sports/indiana-thwarts-penn-state-upset-bid-with-catch-of-the-year/
