The mental health of college students is a sensitive issue of higher education, and the motivation of physical education reveals the mental health of college students from one side. Through the investigation, it is found that the current mental health problems of normal students are mainly manifested in the aspects of heavy learning burden, tense interpersonal relationship, psychological gap, etc., while the motivation of physical education presents the characteristics of diversification and complexity, which can continuously promote learning. Motivation is intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation only plays a supporting role. Only when extrinsic motivation is transformed into intrinsic motivation, and the intrinsic motivation is the main one, can students fully feel the joy of learning itself, and can actively, spontaneously, and actively participate in learning activities without too much external pressure.