Underdog stories are easy to root for, and they are one of the things that make people interested in sports. College Football has proven this year that it can be a launching pad for stars, as seen with Fernando Mendoza and Trinidad Chambliss, who were not initially viewed as such when they came out of high school.
Nobody knows what it’s like to be an underdog more than Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, whose life is the subject of a movie titled “American Underdog.” Warner has been impressed by the two hard-working collegiate quarterbacks.
Kurt Warner Praises Fernando Mendoza and Trinidad Chambliss
Mendoza and Chambliss weren’t expected to be massive stars when they entered college football. That didn’t prevent them from working hard and earning their way on the field, and once they did, they both proved they belonged.
“We continue to spend so much time on the ‘measureables’, I’m a believer that you follow ‘production’, the thing that really matters & tells u if someone can play,” said the Hall of Fame quarterback.
This is what I was talking about yesterday, cool that these two guys got their chance to thrive on the big stage… we continue to spend so much time on the “measureables”, I’m a believer that you follow “production”, the thing that really matters & tells u if someone can play! https://t.co/Sf6XbjiezG
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) January 2, 2026
Mendoza ranks as the No. 2 quarterback in PFSN’s College Football quarterback impact rankings (QBi) and is the 2025 Heisman Trophy Award winner. After transferring from Cal to Indiana, Mendoza thrived as a Junior in 2025, completing 72.3 % of his passes for 3,172 yards, 36 touchdowns, and six interceptions, while chipping in 256 yards and six touchdowns on the ground as well.
The number one-seeded Indiana routed Alabama in the Rose Bowl by a score of 38-3, as they advanced to the College Football Playoff Semifinals. Mendoza shone in the game, completing 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns, cementing his status as one of the best quarterbacks in college football and a top NFL Draft prospect.
The 22-year-old quarterback is expected by many to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a pick that the Las Vegas Raiders would hold if the draft were held today, and that’s where he went in PFSN’s latest NFL Mock Draft as well.
MORE: Ex-Chiefs QB Drops Verdict on Fernando Mendoza’s NFL Draft Outlook After Indiana’s Win vs. Alabama
Meanwhile, Chambliss ranks as the No. 5 quarterback in QBi, after starting the season as the backup quarterback at Ole Miss. Chambliss transferred from Ferris State to Ole Miss ahead of his senior year in 2025 and has since proven it was the right decision, taking over as the starter.
The 23-year-old quarterback led the SEC in passing yardage as a senior, completing 66.4% of his passes for 3,660 yards, 21 touchdowns, and three interceptions. His dual-threat ability has made him even more dangerous, as he’s rushed for 520 yards and eight touchdowns as well.
Ole Miss entered the College Football Playoffs as an underdog after head coach Lane Kiffin departed for the LSU head coaching job on November 30.
However, despite the loss of their head coach, Chambliss and the Rebels embraced the underdog nature and came from behind to stun the Georgia Bulldogs by a score of 39-34 in the Sugar Bowl. Chambliss excelled on the national stage, completing 30 of 46 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns.
Like Warner and many others before them, Chambliss and Mendoza continue to prove that how you are regarded doesn’t define who you are as a player. While neither was highly regarded out of high school, they have been two of the top quarterbacks in college football in 2025 and are looking to lead their teams to glory, bringing home a National Championship for their school.
