Fernando Mendoza bloody lip: How possible missed targeting busted Indiana QB open in CFP title game vs. Miami

Fernando Mendoza cruised through the Indiana Hoosiers’ first two College Football Playoff matchups, throwing more touchdowns than incompletions. But from the jump of Monday’s championship game, the Miami Hurricanes made it clear they would be making things a bit tougher for the Heisman Trophy winner.

While Indiana took the first lead of the game with a first-quarter field goal, Mendoza faced plenty of pressure from the Hurricanes’ talented front in the opening minutes. In fact, the Hoosiers quarterback took a big shot away from the ball, but no flag was thrown.

Hurricanes defender Jakobe Thomas delivered a hit that resulted in Mendoza suffering a visibly bloody lip and falling to the ground.

Here’s a look at the hit to Mendoza that led to his bloody lip but wasn’t penalized in Monday’s national championship game.

MORE: Live updates, highlights from Miami vs. Indiana

How did Fernando Mendoza get a bloody lip?

Mendoza's bloody lip came on a 1st & 10 play from the Miami 20-yard line in the first quarter. With Indiana threatening to score first, Mendoza handed the ball off to running back Kaelon Black. 

However, despite Mendoza virtually taking himself out of the play on the handoff, he wound up taking a shot anyway. Thomas didn't follow the ball carrier, rather approaching Mendoza after the handoff to lay a hit on the quarterback, who came up like he was ready to block.

Thomas lifted his helmet into Mendoza's upper-body a bit, and the Hoosiers star fell to the ground quickly. When he got up, Mendoza had a bloody lip.

Fernando Mendoza took a hit on this play 😳 pic.twitter.com/phaZoT2X92

ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe later said on the broadcast that Mendoza's lip was cut on the inside. She added that an Indiana athletic trainer was putting gloves on to help wipe the blood off before Fernando's brother, Alberto Mendoza, said, "Just let me do it. It's my brother. I can get his blood off me."

Did Miami get away with a penalty on Fernando Mendoza hit?

As it appeared, Miami looked like it got away with targeting on Thomas’ hit to Mendoza. The hit took place away from the ball, meaning the extra contact Thomas delivered was largely unnecessary.

ESPN color analyst Kirk Herbstreit said after the play that the Hurricanes were told this week “to hit Mendoza as often as they can.” That philosophy would align with Thomas still pursuing Mendoza despite the Hoosiers quarterback handing the ball off — but the more violent nature of Thomas’ hit likely should have been penalized.

The officials did not throw a flag, and Indiana’s drive resulted in a field goal.

Here's another angle of Thomas' hit, clearly showing that he had helmet-to-helmet contact with Mendoza.

Was this hit on Mendoza targeting? pic.twitter.com/EHybEGUVN0

MORE CFP CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NEWS:

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• Roster breakdown: Who has more blue-chippers?
• Is Indiana better than Joe Burrow-led LSU?
• Miami's run has a March Madness feel

What is targeting in college football?

The NCAA rulebook says targeting means "a player takes aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with forcible contact that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball."

The targeting rules aim to protect players, watching for unnecessary hits or violent hits. NCAA's targeting rules can be most directly compared to the NFL's unnecessary roughness rules.

Targeting in college football results in a 15-yard penalty, and the player who committed the foul is also penalized. If the flag is thrown in the first half, the player is disqualified for the remainder of the game. For targeting fouls that occur in the second half, the player is suspended for the first half of the next game.

MORE: Everything to know about targeting in college football

Miami penalty yards per game

According to Team Rankings, Miami has ranked 48th in the country this season with 57.6 penalty yards per game.  

Flags particularly hurt the Hurricanes in the CFP semifinals against Ole Miss, where they had 10 penalties for 74 yards.

MORE: Meet Fernando Mendoza's entire family, including his mom, dad and QB brother