Why Indiana’s Heisman Winner Is Sweating It Out At Planet Fitness

Picture the scene for a moment. You walk into your local Planet Fitness, scanning for an open treadmill or a free bench press. You dodge the “Lunk Alarm” and the rows of purple and yellow machines, and there, in the corner, getting a pump in before the biggest job interview of his life, is the most decorated quarterback in Indiana Hoosiers history.

It sounds like the setup to a bad Super Bowl commercial, doesn’t it? But for Fernando Mendoza, the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, it’s just a Tuesday.

In a move that perfectly encapsulates the no-nonsense, “what have you done for me lately” culture of modern college football, Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti has officially barred his star quarterback, fresh off a National Championship run, from the team facilities. The message? The 2025 season is over. We’re onto 2026.

The Ultimate Reality Check From Coach Cignetti

If you thought winning the Hoosiers’ first Heisman Trophy would earn you a lifetime key card to the weight room, you don’t know Curt Cignetti.

Mendoza spilled the beans during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, dropping a story that is equal parts hilarious and telling about the program’s culture. According to the QB, there wasn’t much ceremony involved in his eviction.

“Well, you know Cignetti, he’s a tough cookie,” Mendoza said. “After the season, he said, ‘I’ve had enough of you Mendoza. I kicked you out.’ So now I can’t go back to the Indiana facility.”

It’s a jarring pivot. One minute you’re hoisting the National Championship trophy, the next you’re being told your fob doesn’t work anymore. But in Cignetti’s world, nostalgia is a distraction. The focus has shifted entirely to the 2026-27 campaign, and having an NFL-bound superstar hanging around the lockers might just take the edge off the hungry new transfers trying to earn their stripes.

Draft Prep On a Budget

So, where does a future multi-millionaire train when he gets locked out of his alma mater? Apparently, right alongside the rest of us civilians.

“So now I’m working out at Planet Fitness, you know, $15 dollars a month right here,” Mendoza joked. “Before radio row, I got a quick workout in.”

There is something undeniably charming about a guy preparing to face NFL defenses utilizing equipment that costs less per month than a couple of fancy coffees. Mendoza noted that while he loves “hanging out with the boys,” his priority right now is draft prep. He describes himself as a “big guy” who isn’t necessarily the strongest or most athletic naturally, meaning he has to stay ahead of the curve.

Turning the Page On a National Championship

This anecdote might generate some laughs on social media, but it reveals the razor-sharp psychology Cignetti uses to run his ship.

Let’s look at the numbers: a 27-2 record over his first two seasons at Indiana. A National Title. A Heisman winner. Most coaches would be taking a victory lap that lasts well into the summer. Cignetti, however, seems allergic to complacency. By removing the “ghosts” of the championship past, he forces the current roster to look forward, not backward.

The Indiana Hoosiers enter 2026 with a massive target on their backs. When you’re the king of the mountain, everyone is coming for the crown. Cignetti knows that if his returning players see Mendoza lounging around, basking in the glory of last season, they might subconsciously relax.

The Exodus and the Reload

The “clean slate” philosophy is necessary because the locker room is going to look drastically different. This isn’t just about Mendoza leaving. The Indiana Hoosiers are waving goodbye to a laundry list of contributors who helped build this dynasty. We’re talking about key departures like Roman Hemby, Kaelon Black, Omar Cooper Jr., Elijah Sarratt, and defensive stalwarts like Aiden Fisher and Louis Moore. That is a massive drain of talent and leadership.

In their place? A fresh crop of 17 incoming transfers who have to learn the Cignetti way immediately. The coaching staff has to integrate these new pieces with the returning core without the shadow of the 2025 legends looming over them.

It’s a new team. It needs a new identity. And you can’t build a new identity if you’re still clinging to the old one.

A Legacy Sealed, A Future Unwritten

Ultimately, this is a “business is business” moment. Cignetti appreciates what Mendoza did for Indiana football. But Cignetti’s job isn’t to be Mendoza’s friend; it’s to win football games in 2026.

As for Mendoza? He’ll be just fine. He’s headed for the bright lights of Las Vegas or whichever lucky NFL franchise snaps him up first. He’ll trade that $15 Planet Fitness membership for a state-of-the-art NFL training complex soon enough.

But until then, if you’re in Bloomington and see a guy who looks suspiciously like a Heisman winner wiping down the elliptical, say hello. Just don’t ask him if he can get you into the Indiana weight room. He doesn’t have the code anymore.