Fernando Mendoza's latest Ohio State cap tip shows how huge Big Ten title game is

Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza has a chance to elevate his Heisman Trophy chances should he have a productive performance in this Saturday's Big Ten Championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Although the Hoosiers have yet to beat the Buckeyes in a big game, Mendoza said he is up for the challenge. Doing so would mean beating fellow Heisman hopeful Julian Sayin to win the conference title on the heels of the College Football Playoff.

The California-Berkeley transfer spoke openly about Sayin in a classy manner while meeting with select media ahead of the game. Simply put, the competitive spirit mixed with humbleness is how Mendoza views Sayin, he said.

“I really respect Julian. He is so effective, and he fits that [Ohio State] offense perfectly,” Mendoza said. “Every quarterback prides himself on completion percentage, and his completion percentage is out of this world.”

Mendoza isn't lying either. Entering the championship game, the Buckeyes and Hoosiers were a combined 24-0 during the regular-season. The Hoosiers were unbeaten in large part to Mendoza's near-flawless execution all year long, but Sayin has a case, too. He has thrown for a little over 3,000 yards while tossing 30 touchdowns to only five interceptions.

That's good enough for a 91.4 QBR, which tops the nation's extensive quarterback list according to ESPN.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day, if he could, would give both quarterbacks their flowers.

“I’d vote for ‘em both, so don’t get me in trouble," Day said. "I’d put Carnell [Tate] right there, too. And Caleb Downs would be right in there. These guys are really good football players — Arvell Reese? I could go on and on.”

Day said he looks forward to the challenge ahead, as does Sayin.

“It’s on to Indiana,” Day said. “This is gonna be an electric atmosphere. It’s a great opponent. This is a very important game for us. We got to go play our best. That game is behind us.”

The winner likely earns the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, making the game just as important, if not more important than any impending playoff games still awaiting both teams.

“There’s no question it’s been too long since we’ve been to Indy," Day said after beating Michigan. "We want to win this thing.”

In four days' time, the Buckeyes will have a chance to do exactly that.

Whether they will is the major question.