NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Joe Gibbs talks during the induction ceremony in Charlotte, N.C., Jan. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
THIS IS EPISODE 462 OF THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST
Joe Gibbs is a legend in two sports. He’s a Pro Football Hall of Fame coach who won three Super Bowl championships with the Washington Redskins, and he’s also a five-time NASCAR Cup Series champion as the owner of Joe Gibbs Racing.
He began his NFL coaching career in 1973 as an assistant with the Cardinals before moving to the Buccaneers and Chargers. His first and only head coaching job came with the Washington Redskins in 1981. He coached the Redskins for 12 seasons until his retirement in 1992.
After stepping away from the NFL, Gibbs focused on NASCAR, creating Joe Gibbs Racing in 1992. He currently has four drivers.
In 2004, however, Gibbs felt called back to football and back to the Redskins for a second stint as their head coach, from 2004 to 2007. He was able to lead Washington to the playoffs twice before retiring for good in January 2008.
In 1996, Gibbs was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 2020, he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He’s the only person ever to be inducted into both the Pro Football and NASCAR Halls of Fame. In 2020, he was also named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team and participated in ceremonies celebrating the honor prior to Super Bowl LIV in Miami.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Gibbs about being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, why he’s so outspoken about his faith, where his relationship with Jesus began, and how that strong faith helped him during the difficult loss of his son JD.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza holds his Heisman Trophy, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza entered the college football history books on Saturday evening, becoming the latest winner of the Heisman Trophy.
Mendoza is the first Hoosier ever to win college football’s highest award. The redshirt junior beat out Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin.
“First of all,” Mendoza said during his acceptance speech, “I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to chase a dream that once felt a world away. Standing here tonight, holding this bad boy, representing Indiana University, still doesn’t feel real.”
He went on to thank his teammates and coaches, Hoosier fans, the University of California (where he got his collegiate start), and his family.
“I want every kid out there who feels overlooked — underestimated — to know I was you,” Mendoza said as he concluded his speech. “I was that kid too. I was in your shoes. The truth is you don’t need the most stars, hype or rankings. You just need discipline, heart and people who believe in you. And you need to believe in your own abilities. I hope this moment shows you that chasing your dreams [is] worth it, no matter how big or impossible they seem.
“God bless, go Hoosiers, thank you guys.”
Later, in a press conference following the award ceremony, Mendoza expanded on his relationship with God.
“My faith is a huge component (of this award),” he said. “It’s basically the sole reason why I got here. All the bumps and bruises and the path that God has laid out for me, I wouldn’t want it any other way. … Building that faith throughout college and now being able to share my faith with these amazing teammates, just the community of faith, having God on my side, always praising Jesus Christ, it’s incredible. And I can’t thank the Man above enough.”
Mendoza originally committed to Yale as a three-star quarterback recruit out of Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, but he flipped his commitment to Cal before enrolling. After redshirting as a freshman in 2022, Mendoza became the Golden Bears’ starter halfway through the 2023 season. He continued to impress the following year, entered the transfer portal after the season, and committed to Indiana 12 days later.
Mendoza’s career truly took off in his first season with the Hoosiers this fall. He completed 71.5% of his passes for 2,980 yards with 33 touchdowns against only six interceptions. His 33 TD tosses led all of FBS while his total QBR (181.4) was No. 2, less than a point behind Sayin’s. Mendoza also carried the ball 69 times for 240 yards and six more scores.
He enjoyed immense team success as well in 2025. Indiana finished the regular season 12-0, winning by an average of 33.4 points per game. Then in the Big Ten Championship Game, Mendoza’s No. 2 Hoosiers bested Sayin’s No. 1 Buckeyes, 13-10, to capture Indiana’s first conference championship since 1967.
“I want to give all the glory to God,” an emotional Mendoza said on the field after the Big Ten title game. “We were never supposed to be in this position, but by the glory of God, the great coaches, the great teammates, everyone we have around us, we were able to pull this off.”
The sports world has seen Mendoza acknowledge his Heavenly Father after some of the biggest triumphs in college football. However, in a less-viewed media availability a day before the Heisman Trophy ceremony, he spoke of the challenges he’s faced as gifts from God too. The COVID pandemic disrupted his high school experience and hamstrung his college recruiting. Meanwhile, his mother, Elsa, lives with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and uses a wheelchair.
“I’m really happy that God put those bumps and challenges in my life,” he told the media. “… Evidently, those have been blessings because they’ve lit a fire underneath myself in order to make myself work harder and get to the point that I am today. Still a long way to go, however I really do thank God for all the bumps and bruises that my family and I have accrued in order to catapult us to this position right here today.”
“I believe that I would not be here without the path that my Lord, Jesus Christ, has put me on today,” he told the media. “And so that’s why I always try to give Him the glory and always give Him the thanks, as I know He has a plan for me. Whether it’s helping those raise awareness for MS, whether it’s praising His glory, or helping my teammates and coaches in service to them on the field. Whatever it is, I always try to give the glory.”
Mendoza might not be done hoisting trophies just yet this season. He leads his team into the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 overall seed, hoping to direct the Hoosiers all the way to the program’s first national championship. Indiana has a first-round bye and will take on the winner of the matchup between No. 9 Alabama and No. 8 Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 at 4 p.m. ET.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING MOHAMED MASSAQUOI
Mohamed Massaquoi is a former NFL wide receiver who played five seasons with the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars. He was selected in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft by Cleveland after a stellar career in college with Georgia, where he was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2008.
Today on the podcast, Matt Forte talks to Mohamed Massaquoi about his college choice of Georgia, lessons learned from playing with the Browns, his draft day experience, transitioning out of the NFL, the accident that caused him to have four fingers amputated, and how God has remained constant in his life through the highs and lows.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)
Diego Pavia has always believed in himself, even when others might not have. All he needed was a chance — a theme that would resurface again and again on his way to stardom at Vanderbilt, and eventually, to discovering a faith that reshaped his entire life.
That journey began long before SEC stadiums or Heisman Trophy chatter. It started at junior college, where football was present but clarity wasn’t. Pavia carried big dreams, but also big questions.
“I went to JUCO. I had questions about God. It was like God wasn’t really in my life, and it was like, where am I?” he said this week on “The Pivot Podcast” with Ryan Clark. “I met these two dudes — Dalton Bowles and Carson Sullivan. One’s a preacher right now and one’s a coach. These dudes led me to Christ. The first time I ever prayed, really, on my hands and knees, tears were dropping from my eyes. I got up and it was just tears of joy — coming to the Lord and Savior. Ever since then, it was like, this is what I needed. It was a relationship with God.”
And as he moved on to New Mexico State in 2022, God kept placing people in his path. At NMSU, Pavia crossed paths with tight end Eli Stowers, whose faith wasn’t loud or performative, but steady and unmistakable. Stowers’ conviction and example through how he lived his life made an imprint on Pavia, so much so that Pavia believes they weren’t teammates by accident — both at New Mexico State and eventually at Vanderbilt.
“It was just like, Christ is real, and this is the reason why I am here right now,” Pavia said on the podcast.
But his belief in God didn’t mean his football path suddenly smoothed out. His road to the SEC was anything but easy. When he entered the transfer portal, interest was minimal.
“When I hit the transfer portal, no one wanted me,” he said. “My biggest offer was Washington State. No disrespect to Washington State, I thought I was better than that.”
He committed to Nevada at first, unsure he could complete the 21 credits Vanderbilt required for admission. But everything changed when Pavia received a phone call from Jerry Kill, his head coach at New Mexico State who had recently retired. Turns out, Kill wasn’t totally done in football yet. He told Pavia he was joining Vanderbilt’s staff as a chief consultant, and he didn’t mince words.
“You’re coming with me,” Kill told him.
That was all Pavia needed.
“I’m a loyal dude,” he said. “I feel like you took a chance on me coming from JUCO to New Mexico State, with this opportunity in the SEC, I’m going to take it.”
The chance he had long been waiting for had finally arrived — and he made the most of it.
He broke onto the scene last season, leading Vanderbilt to a 7-6 season and a win in the Birmingham Bowl. But this fall, Pavia became one of the most dynamic players in college football. He led Vanderbilt to a 10–2 record, claimed the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award last week, and was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year on Wednesday, two days after he was named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, which will be revealed at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Pavia amassed 4,018 yards of total offense with 36 total touchdowns while leading the SEC in pass efficiency (171.5), touchdown passes (27) and completion percentage (71.2%). He ranks second nationally in total offense (334.8 yards per game) and became the first Vanderbilt player ever to top 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in a single game (Nov. 8).
Yet for all the production, the statistics only reinforce the belief he’s carried his whole life.
“I was like, ‘I can win wherever I go. I just need a chance. I just need an opportunity,'” he said on “The Pivot.” “The NFL as well — just give me a chance. I just want an opportunity and I can show you that I’m going to play. That’s just who I feel I am deep inside. I’m a true competitor who, at all costs, I’m going to beat you out. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, where you came from, I’m going to win. That’s how I grew up being.”
His confidence and authenticity have never wavered — not when he was overlooked in recruiting, not when schools passed on him in the portal, and not even when he stumbled publicly. After Vanderbilt stunned No. 1 Alabama last year, fans stormed the field and emotions exploded. Pavia, overwhelmed by the moment, praised God on live TV.
“It’s literally all God’s timing,” he said on SEC Network. “Literally from the jump. God gave me a vision when I was a little kid, and He don’t let back any promises. It’s God’s timeline. I’m super thankful.”
By the next morning, he knew he hadn’t represented himself or his faith the way he wanted to. His apology came quickly and publicly:
“I’m sorry for cussing last night but, God you are the TRUTH AND ALL THE GLORY GOES TO YOU!! For yall that don’t know him, get to know him. HE IS MAGICAL!!”
Now, after finishing the 2025 season 10-2 and just outside of the College Football Playoff field, Pavia and the No. 14 Commodores will face No. 23 Iowa in the Reliaquest Bowl at 12 p.m. ET on Dec. 31.
Sting Ray Robb in May 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
THIS IS THE GET IN THE GAME PODCAST
WITH SCOTT LINEBRINK
Our guest today is Sting Ray Robb (yes, that is his real name), a race car driver in the IndyCar Series.
He shares about how his faith has shaped his identity beyond racing results, the importance of Scripture in his life, and the challenges of being a believer in a largely secular sport. He emphasizes the significance of community, the power of leading by example, and the need to lean into doubt as a means of growth.
