Pat McAfee was on island picking Indiana football to beat Oregon. IU's QB noticed
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Pat McAfee was on island picking Indiana football to beat Oregon. IU's QB noticed
Matthew Glenesk, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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2 min read
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Indiana footballentered Saturday with a 1-72 record against top 5-ranked teams. Plus, Oregon had won 18 straight home games. So it was going to take a true believer to pick the Hoosiers to beat No. 2 Oregon in Autzen Stadium.
Enter Pat McAfee. OK, so the formerIndianapolis Coltspunter lives in Indy and his wife is a Hoosier, but the ESPN personality was on an island this morning picking IU to beat Oregon on the "College GameDay" set.
That faith didn't go unnoticed by the seventh-ranked Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0). Quarterback Fernando Mendoza made sure to give McAfee some love followingIndiana's 30-20 win over the Ducks(5-1, 2-1).
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"I want to give a quick shoutout to my guy Pat McAfee for shouting us out because he's friends with my guy Steve Levy, and Boston Connor. Let's go. Go Hoosiers!" Mendoza told CBS' Jenny Dell.
Dell quipped back, "ESPN, CBS, whatever. We'll go with that."
McAfee's pick Saturday morning came with a little misdirection.
"Fernando Mendoza has no chance to come in here," McAfee said. "I love Oregon. I love Dan Lanning. I was shirtless with that man this morning... But my wife is a Hoosier, through and through. And so am I, baby! Give me the Hoo-Hoo-Hoo-Hoosiers! Hoo-Hoo-Hoo-Hoosiers! Hoo-Hoo-Hoo-Hoosiers! In the biggest win of (Curt) Cignetti's career, theIndiana Hoosierstell the world, 'We're for real.'"
"Indiana gets the win today, changes the trajectory of all of college sports," McAfee continued. "Congratulations to Cig and the boys.
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Roman Hemby #1 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates with Fernando Mendoza #15 after a touchdown during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
Indiana Curt Cignetti expresses his anger after a pass interference no call against Oregon during the second quarter at Autzen Stadium October 11, 2025.
(Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard, Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Kellan Wyatt #13 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after a sack during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs out of the pocket during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Indiana Hoosiers mascot Hoosier The Bison poses for a photo before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Jamari Johnson #9 of the Oregon Ducks is hit by Aiden Fisher #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers after making a catch during the first half at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs the ball during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt hauls in a pass under cover from Oregon defensive back Sione Laulea as the Oregon Ducks host the Indiana Hoosiers Oct. 11, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Oregon outside linebacker Blake Purchase pressures Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the Oregon Ducks host the Indiana Hoosiers Oct. 11, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Head coach Curt Cignetti of the Indiana Hoosiers enters the field before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
1/10
Indiana football, yes, Indiana football ends Oregon home win streak in top-10 showdown
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Roman Hemby #1 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates with Fernando Mendoza #15 after a touchdown during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
1/10
Indiana football, yes, Indiana football ends Oregon home win streak in top-10 showdown
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Roman Hemby #1 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates with Fernando Mendoza #15 after a touchdown during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
2/10
Indiana football, yes, Indiana football ends Oregon home win streak in top-10 showdown
Indiana Curt Cignetti expresses his anger after a pass interference no call against Oregon during the second quarter at Autzen Stadium October 11, 2025.
(Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard, Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
3/10
Indiana football, yes, Indiana football ends Oregon home win streak in top-10 showdown
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Kellan Wyatt #13 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after a sack during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
4/10
Indiana football, yes, Indiana football ends Oregon home win streak in top-10 showdown
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs out of the pocket during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
5/10
Indiana football, yes, Indiana football ends Oregon home win streak in top-10 showdown
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Indiana Hoosiers mascot Hoosier The Bison poses for a photo before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
6/10
Indiana football, yes, Indiana football ends Oregon home win streak in top-10 showdown
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Jamari Johnson #9 of the Oregon Ducks is hit by Aiden Fisher #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers after making a catch during the first half at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
7/10
Indiana football, yes, Indiana football ends Oregon home win streak in top-10 showdown
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs the ball during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)
8/10
Indiana football, yes, Indiana football ends Oregon home win streak in top-10 showdown
Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt hauls in a pass under cover from Oregon defensive back Sione Laulea as the Oregon Ducks host the Indiana Hoosiers Oct. 11, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
9/10
Indiana football, yes, Indiana football ends Oregon home win streak in top-10 showdown
Oregon outside linebacker Blake Purchase pressures Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the Oregon Ducks host the Indiana Hoosiers Oct. 11, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
10/10
Indiana football, yes, Indiana football ends Oregon home win streak in top-10 showdown
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 11: Head coach Curt Cignetti of the Indiana Hoosiers enters the field before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
