Fernando Mendoza is a senior quarterback.
Yes, Fernando Mendoza, the standout Indiana Hoosiers QB, qualifies as a senior based on his academic and athletic timeline as of January 2026. Born October 1, 2003, he accelerated through UC Berkeley (graduating early in three years by 2025) before transferring to Indiana for his master's in Business Administration (2025-2026). This positions him as a senior in his final eligible football year, capped by winning the Heisman Trophy.

Academic Timeline

Mendoza's path reflects elite student-athlete efficiency:

  • UC Berkeley (2022-2025) : Completed undergrad in Business Administration as a sophomore entry, participating in Cal Athletics and community roles like the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
  • Indiana University (2025-2026) : Pursuing master's at Kelley School of Business while leading the Hoosiers; listed as "Redshirt Junior" pre-season but effectively senior status post-graduation and Heisman win.
  • Heisman bio explicitly calls him "Senior QB ," noting his record-setting 2025 season with 2,980 yards and first-place finishes in all six regions.

Football Achievements as Senior

His 2025 Indiana campaign solidified senior leadership:

  • Transferred after strong Cal years (3,004 yards, 16 TDs in 2024).
  • Delivered Heisman speech prep and media buzz, including 84.66% of points (7th highest ever).
  • Fan forums like Reddit praise his character, with comments like "Are there people who dislike this guy?" showing widespread appeal.

Year| Team| Starts| Yards| TDs| INTs| Notes
---|---|---|---|---|---|---
2023| Cal| 8| 1,708| 14| 10| Backup role 3
2024| Cal| 11| 3,004| 16| 6| Starter, ACC honors 3
2025| Indiana| -| 2,980| -| -| Heisman winner 5

Trending Context & Public Perception

He's a hot topic in CFB circles. Recent buzz includes a December 2025 Heisman finalist presser and viral X posts calling him "cute" and "protect at all costs." LinkedIn highlights his senior-year balance of football and WSJ- featured business pursuits. Age discussions note him as "older" among peers due to early starts, fueling "senior" narrative.

TL;DR : Fernando Mendoza is indeed a senior—academically via master's program and athletically as Heisman-winning QB in his final year. Public forums and data confirm this amid his meteoric rise.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.