Quick Scoop

Fernando Mendoza transferred from California (Cal) to Indiana. The talented quarterback announced his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal on December 11, 2024, and committed to the Indiana Hoosiers just under two weeks later on December 23, 2024.

From Berkeley to Bloomington

Mendoza spent the earlier part of his college career at the University of California, Berkeley, where he played for the Golden Bears. He originally graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration from Berkeley's Haas School of Business in 2025. During the 2024 season at Cal, Mendoza was the starting quarterback and earned ACC quarterback of the week honors in consecutive games against Oregon State and Wake Forest, setting career highs along the way. His 56 passing attempts against Wake Forest marked the most by a Cal quarterback since 2016.

Why Indiana?

The transfer to Indiana turned out to be a family affair. Mendoza's brother, Alberto Mendoza, was already on the Hoosiers' roster as the No. 3 quarterback, which influenced Fernando's decision to make the move. Alberto became the top backup to his big brother in the 2025 season. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti is known for finding talented players from lesser Power Four schools and turning them into superstars, making the fit seem natural.

His Indiana Impact

In his first season with the Hoosiers after transferring from Cal, Mendoza delivered a historic performance that exceeded all expectations. He completed 226 of 316 passes (71.5%) for 2,980 yards, 33 passing touchdowns, and just six interceptions, while adding 240 rushing yards and six rushing scores. His stellar play earned him the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, AP Player of the Year, and Big Ten Offensive and Quarterback of the Year honors. He posted the second-highest passer rating among starting quarterbacks (181.4) and ranked fifth nationally in completion rate. During Indiana's 27-14 season opener against Old Dominion, Mendoza completed 18 of 31 passes for 193 yards and scored a rushing touchdown.

What's Next

Mendoza has been ranked as the No. 1 transfer addition of the 2025 season by On3's Pete Nakos, recognizing his program-altering impact in Indiana's breakout campaign. Several national outlets and mock-draft models project him as a potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. As Indiana secured the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, Mendoza has the opportunity to lead the Hoosiers deep into the postseason.

TLDR: Fernando Mendoza transferred from California (Cal) to Indiana in December 2024. His brother Alberto being on the Indiana roster influenced his decision. He's had an incredible first season with the Hoosiers, winning the Heisman Trophy and multiple national awards while establishing himself as a top NFL prospect. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.