No. 2 Indiana survived a true thriller on the road to defeat Penn State 27-24, which improves them to 10-0 on the season.
Penn State (3-6, 0-6) came back to take the lead 24-20 after trailing by 10 at the half. Late in the fourth quarter after being down by 13 points in the third redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer connected with Nicholas Singleton for a 19-yard score.
Indiana was trailing 24-20 with 36 seconds left, but a legacy drive happened as Heisman Trophy front-runner Fernando Mendoza hit junior wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. for the game-winning 7-yard reception. Cooper made an unbelievable, sensational catch and dragged his foot at the back of the end zone to secure the win.
Look at how social media reacted to the insane grab that helped Indiana improve to 10-0 on the year.
Just listen to Fox Sports commentator Gus Johnson on the call, it was simply electric when Omar Cooper made the catch from Fernando Mendoza.
THIS TOE-TAP TD WAS UNREAL 🤯
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 8, 2025
NO. 2 INDIANA SURVIVES PENN STATE IN WILD FINISH TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED
(via @CFBONFOX)pic.twitter.com/EgndFC1EO1
Omar Cooper Jr may have had the best catch of the year against Penn State today.
CATCH OF THE YEAR?! 😱 pic.twitter.com/Be8zMRHWCS
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 8, 2025
Savanah Tujague with the bold statement calling it "The Most Insane Catch She's Ever Seen In Her Life"
THE CATCH https://t.co/THB7oujrxo pic.twitter.com/q0p0o5WUWZ
— Savanah Tujague (@savanah2j) November 8, 2025
The Athletic gave credit to both Mendoza and Cooper for what was so far in the season the throw and catch of the year as Indiana defeated Penn State, 27-24 with the biggest play of the year for the Hoosiers.
THROW OF THE YEAR!
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 8, 2025
CATCH OF THE YEAR!
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza and Omar Cooper Jr. make an unreal play for a go-ahead TD vs. Penn State with 36 seconds left.
🎥 @CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/mX4qr3AOe1
Former Heisman Trophy Winner and voter RG3 aka Robert Griffin III recognized "The Catch" even gave Cooper the nickname Twinkle Toes.
WHAT A CATCH 🤯
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) November 8, 2025
Omar Cooper Jr with the TWINKLE TOES ON THE TD pic.twitter.com/YSQ7nGdq55
Dusty Baker of Wave3News in Louisville, Kentucky calls it the catch of the year.
This might be the catch of the year!
— Dusty Baker (@DustyBakerTV) November 8, 2025
Fernando Mendoza just marched the Indiana Hoosiers down the field for 80 yards and puts IU back up against Penn State on the road with a TD pass to Omar Cooper Jr. in the back of the endzone.
It was one of the most insane catches you will… pic.twitter.com/Eh5BaJjxVr
One for the record books, we will never ever forget this one.
Unreal catch by Omar Cooper Jr with the undefeated season on the line.
— Garrett Armbrust (@4thandsaturday) November 8, 2025
That drive by Fernando Mendoza though will go down in the IU history books.
Just seam after seam over the middle for completions going the length of the field in under two mins.
pic.twitter.com/KZ4cmiYJ3Y
This may have been Gus Johnson's best call on a play ever, like no seriously re-listen to this one
OMAR COOPER JR CATCH OF THE YEAR ALMOST KILLS GUS JOHNSON pic.twitter.com/kUE4czfzN1
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) November 8, 2025
For the full game Fernando Mendoza threw for 218 yards, one touchdown, an interception and also ran for a TD on the ground. Kaelon Black scored a rushing touchdown and Nico Radicic kicked two field goals for the Hoosiers. Charlie Becker had seven receptions for 118 yards and Cooper finished with six receptions for 32 yards.
Indiana faces Wisconsin in their next matchup on November 15th in Bloomington at home.