Miami High School Divided Over Fernando Mendoza’s National Title Game Participation
MIAMI, FL — When the College Football Playoff National Championship kicks off Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium, a unique storyline will play out off the field nearly as loudly as the one on it: students at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami are deeply divided about which team to support — and with good reason.
At the center of the emotional split is Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for the Indiana Hoosiers, who grew up minutes from the University of Miami campus and starred at Christopher Columbus before becoming one of college football’s biggest stars.
But the story doesn’t end there. Several other alumni from Christopher Columbus High are also involved in the title matchup, both for Indiana and the University of Miami Hurricanes, creating a powerful mix of hometown pride and divided loyalties within the school community.
‘Homegrown Heroes’: A Championship Like No Other
For the Westchester-area high school, the stakes are personal. Columbus High boasts seven alumni on the field or on the coaching staffs of both competing teams — a near-unprecedented connection for a single school in a national title game.
Mendoza, who won the 2025 Heisman Trophy and several other national awards while leading Indiana to a perfect 15-0 season, is perhaps the most famous of the group. His younger brother Alberto Mendoza serves as his backup quarterback at Indiana, adding even more family drama to the marquee matchup.
Meanwhile, the Miami Hurricanes’ roster and coaching staff are also peppered with Columbus High roots: four former Explorers — including defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald, offensive lineman Ryan Rodriguez and backup quarterback Vinny Gonzalez — are playing for Miami this season, while head coach Mario Cristobal and assistant coach Alex Mirabal both attended the same high school decades earlier.
That historical web of connections — players, coaches and families all tied by past friendships and shared classrooms — has turned this championship game into a hometown phenomenon.
Divided Loyalties in the Hallways
Walk into any hallway at Christopher Columbus High School this week and you’ll hear one of two refrains.
On one side are students rooting for Mendoza and his Hoosiers, inspired by his unlikely rise from a lightly recruited high school quarterback to the national spotlight. Many view his story as a local kid truly living out the American Dream — forging his way from Miami to college football’s biggest stage.
On the other are die-hard Miami Hurricanes fans who feel their hometown team deserves support above all else. For them, the national title game in Miami is a chance to celebrate the Hurricanes’ return to prominence for the first national championship appearance since 2002.
“We’re so proud of Fernando,” said one Columbus student, “but Miami is still home. You gotta root for your home team.” Another student echoed the sentiment, adding, “It’s college football! You watch the U first, but you still respect what Fernando has done.”
This friendly rivalry reflects a broader cultural divide: some students admire Mendoza’s perseverance and character, while others cling to lifelong Hurricanes loyalty and traditions. Regardless, both groups agree on one thing — the matchup is remarkable.
Pride Vs. Tradition: Miami’s Unique Football Moment
For Mendoza, this championship game is a kind of homecoming. He grew up in Miami, graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in 2022 and once dreamed of playing for the Hurricanes — a dream he pursued but never realized as Miami passed him over during recruiting.
Instead, Mendoza began his college career at California before transferring to Indiana, where his breakout talent helped guide the Hoosiers to historic success and a Heisman Trophy. That journey — from overlooked recruit to the most decorated player in college football — has turned him into a local legend in his hometown.
Yet even with all the personal milestones, Mendoza has tried to keep the focus on the team rather than his own story. At a recent media event, he emphasized that while it’s special to play in front of family and friends, his priority is helping the Hoosiers win a national title and honoring the hard work of his teammates.
Columbus High School: A Community United by Football
Behind the spirited disagreements, there’s a shared sense of community pride. Students, teachers and alumni alike say the sheer fact that their high school has such deep ties to both teams is something to celebrate.
Some students have decorated hallways with banners and school colors representing both Indiana and Miami, turning classrooms into makeshift cheering sections. In fact, the school transformed its own football field into a massive watch party venue for students and families eager to experience the championship atmosphere together.
Administrators even canceled classes on Tuesday to honor the “victory regardless of the outcome,” signaling just how important this game has become for the Columbus community.
What It All Means for College Football
School rivalries and hometown pride are nothing new in American sports, but this matchup brings a rare twist — a single high school with players and leaders on both sides of the biggest game in college football. That mix of divided loyalty and shared celebration is captivating fans far beyond Miami.
No matter which team wins Monday night, Columbus High School will be forever bound to this chapter of college football history, and students will remember not just the plays on the field — but the conversations in the hallways about who to root for and why.
