Those who watched college football’s national championship game between Indiana and Miami on Jan. 19 saw what kind of player — and person — Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is.

Mendoza is the shot in the arm college football needs, and his story is a feel-good one, the kind that needs to be heard more often.

As for those who didn’t watch, they still probably know who he is and some of his background.

Mendoza led Indiana to an unblemished 16-0 overall record, after the program began the year with the most career losses (715) in NCAA history. Head coach Curt Cignetti is a Pittsburgh native.

A better script couldn’t have been written. It’s a throwback to how college players were once gracious about their place in the game.

Mendoza looks like the All-American kid, and truly plays the part. Likely the top overall pick in April’s NFL draft and the Heisman Trophy winner, Mendoza has maintained a humble approach, and hasn’t let all of the hype and accolades get in his head.

After his team won the championship, Mendoza praised and thanked God and said he would “die” for his teammates. He ran over to hug his mom, who is wheelchair-bound due to multiple sclerosis.

And yes, in the excitement of winning the title, Mendoza did drop the “F-bomb,” showing us that he is real in every sense.

Miami quarterback Carson Beck ran off the field without shaking hands with Mendoza.

His reason was, “I don’t owe a handshake after losing a national championship. I didn’t live up to the standard that I worked for.”

Hmmm … sounds like it’s more about the reported $2-plus million dollars in NIL (name, image, likeness) money Long received this season.

However, Mendoza isn’t without his NIL money. He transferred from the University of California to Indiana, where he reportedly picked up $1.6 million.

He signed deals with Adidas and Epic Games, and his success this season raised his NIL total to $2.6 million. Mendoza’s deal is among the top 10 in college football.

NIL money is gradually diluting and destroying the college game, primarily on the football front, but it has also infiltrated basketball. It is extending its reach into other sports, and has begun to find a path into high school sports.

The constant shuffling of transfers and increasing salaries have taken the purity out of the college game and basically turned it into a minor league.

Instead of hearing how much athletes make, how often do we hear about their course of study or something they have done with their major? If an athlete invests NIL money wisely, he or she might not have to venture into the pros — or worry as much about a career outside their sport.

Mendoza has taken a different approach with his funds. He has an arrangement with the university called “Mendoza Mania,” a special collection on the Indiana NIL store where all proceeds benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society in honor of his mother’s battle.

In today’s ever-changing sports world, we too often hear negative stories on several fronts. College players transferring for a bigger payday at another school isn’t about to stop anytime soon.

Once in a while, it is refreshing to hear a feel-good story like Mendoza’s.

It reminds us how college athletics was once a pure proving ground filled with grateful players.