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Omar Cooper Jr. Makes the Catch Of the Year To Propel Hoosiers Past Penn State
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- Omar Cooper Jr. Makes the Catch Of the Year To Propel Hoosiers Past Penn State
Give it to Penn State — the 3-6 Nittany Lions gave the 10-0 Indiana Hoosiers everything they had, and they nearly pulled off the massive upset. With 1:51 left in the game, Penn State punter Gabriel Nwosu 's touchback forced quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers to travel 80 yards to overcome Penn State's 27-24 lead. It was a season-deciding drive for Mendoza, who was the Heisman Trophy frontrunner before this game got underway.
Mendoza did nothing to hurt those chances on that last drive, and the way said drive ended game us the catch of the year, regardless of the level of football. With 36 seconds left, Indiana had third-and-goal at the seven-yard line, and Mendoza — who had been pressured ceaselessly on the drive by Penn State's unwavering blitzes — threw the ball up in the back of the end zone like he was Joe Montana trying to hit Dwight Clark in the 1981 NFC Championship game.
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What we got out of that was another legendary catch.
Somehow, Cooper maintained control as he brought the ball down from an impossible height, and upon review, the touchdown call was upheld.
Cooper isn't just a one-catch guy, either. In this week's Draft Stock Watch video, myself and NFL Draft Expert Luke Easterling discussed Cooper's NFL prospects as a No. 1 receiver at the next level. And as much as this game did for Mendoza's future, you can bet that NFL shot-callers will be taking a new look at Cooper's tape.
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We think they'll like what they see.
You can watch the full NFL Draft Stock Watch video here:
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
