While the college football world celebrated Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers winning the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night, plenty of NBA and WNBA stars shared their reactions.
A number of them came from Indiana’s pro basketball teams, including reactions from players with the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever. Also, a couple of Indiana Hoosiers basketball legends had hot takes, too.
Indiana Football Team Gets Accolades From Players, Legends
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who was probably watching the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on ESPN with the rest of the world, immediately headed out to X and shared his thoughts on the big victory.
Haliburton wrote, “A state has never deserved something more. Congrats @IndianaFootball”.
Indiana Fever star Clark was also quite excited with the result, and even gave Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti — who led the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 season — a shoutout. Clark posted on X, “What a story @IndianaFootball give coach cig his movie now!! Congrats!!!!!!!”
Indiana Hoosiers basketball legend Cody Zeller was in attendance at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Monday night, watching his Hoosiers defeat the No. 10-ranked Miami Hurricanes 27-21. Zeller shared an image from his vantage point and posted on X, “Lots of red in the building! 4 quarters away from NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!! Let’s go Hoosiers!”
Lots of red in the building! 4 quarters away from NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!! Let’s go Hoosiers! pic.twitter.com/IvowISMSPV
— Cody Zeller (@CodyZeller) January 20, 2026
Another Hoosiers basketball legend, Eric Gordon, who also plays these days for the Philadelphia 76ers, had a fantastic reaction to seeing his school take college football’s national championship. Gordon posted on X, “Oh my godddddd!!!!!!!! #HOOSIERS !!!!!!!!!!”
For many Hoosiers, whether they played basketball there under legendary coaches like Bobby Knight or even watched the team play as part of the Indiana pro basketball scene, Monday night will not be forgotten for a long, long time.
Mendoza didn’t have a bang-up passing game against the Hurricanes, but his memorable rushing touchdown will be remembered forever in Indiana football lore. On the night, Mendoza was 16-of-27 passing for 186 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Cignetti took over a football program that entered this college football season with a 3-11 all-time postseason record. But three College Football Playoff victories put the Hoosiers, Mendoza, and Cignetti in the middle of the biggest celebration they’ve ever had in their lives.
Now, Indiana basketball fans hope that the Pacers can bring home an NBA championship. The Fever have one WNBA championship to their credit in the 2012 WNBA season. Yet, Fever fans wouldn’t mind seeing Clark hold that league’s championship trophy high in the air someday.
