Indiana QB Mendoza sorry for 'cooked' spreads after late safety - ESPN

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza quipped about messing up betting lines with his wild, clock-killing scramble to end the Hoosiers' 20-15 win over Iowa on Saturday.

With Indiana up 20-13 after stopping Iowa on its final possession, Mendoza ran off the last three seconds of the game by racing 40 yards backward on fourth-and-19 into his own end zone, where he was tackled for a safety.

Mendoza said he was following orders from coach Curt Cignetti.

«Coach said, 'Hey, take a safety, run out of the end zone,'» Mendoza said. «When I got to the 2, I saw all zeros on the clock, but I kept going.»

Mendoza added: «I know I really cooked people's spreads. My apologies out to them.»

Indiana closed as an 8.5-point favorite at ESPN BET, but those final two points could have affected wagers on alternate spreads.

On the previous Hoosiers possession, Mendoza threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Elijah Sarratt with 1:28 to play to keep No. 11 Indiana (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) undefeated.

The closest win of the season for the Hoosiers was one Cignetti called a «gut check,» and his players agreed.

«We've never been tested like that,» said offensive lineman Pat Coogan. «We have so much room to get better. And that's the best feeling.»

Mendoza connected with Sarratt, who had six catches for 132 yards, on a slant route down the left side, and Sarratt broke the tackle attempt of Iowa's Deshaun Lee on his way to the touchdown.

The quarterback said he knew Iowa would blitz and that his outside receivers would have room.

«It was kind of 'dealer's choice,'» Mendoza said. «When the game's on the line and I can throw a pass like that to my guy Elijah… that's college football. That's what it's all about.»

Indiana, which came into the game ranked