The intersection of elite college sports and influencer culture creates a breeding ground for rumors. Mendoza spent 2025 and 2026 cementing his reputation as one of the most poised passers in college football. His national exposure created an overnight celebrity footprint. Naturally, internet sleuths began tracking his social interactions, monitoring mutual follows, and dissecting casual sightings.
Enter Alix Earle. As one of the most influential digital tastemakers in the world, her romantic life has been heavily publicized since her time at the University of Miami. When Earle was spotted attending marquee collegiate games and VIP sports panels, comment sections did what they always do: construct a narrative.
Clips began circulating across TikTok claiming the two were secretly speaking. Creators spliced game-winning touchdown drives alongside Earle's get-ready-with-me videos, manufacturing a modern celebrity storyline. The rumor gained millions of impressions before anyone stopped to examine whether the two had ever shared a conversation.