The Indiana Hoosiers kick off their season Saturday afternoon against Old Dominion, and all eyes will be on Fernando Mendoza. The transfer from Cal joins the team this offseason, bringing high expectations for the offense.
Coach Curt Cignetti believes Mendoza has the talent to take Indiana’s attack to the next level.
While the Hoosiers have big plans for Mendoza, CBS Sports has put him in the national spotlight. CBS Sports’ Mike Renner recently released his 2026 NFL Mock Draft, projecting the Cleveland Browns to land the No. 1 overall pick—and, surprisingly, to select Mendoza in a deep quarterback class.
“The Browns will almost certainly be going quarterback if they end up picking No. 1 overall, and with Arch Manning expected to return to school, Fernando Mendoza feels like the best fit of the bunch for head coach Kevin Stefanski's offense,” Renner wrote.
That projection immediately put Mendoza in the national spotlight, and he enters his first season with Indiana with more eyes on him than ever.
“He's got a plus NFL arm paired with quick decision-making and tight-window accuracy,” Renner added. “He'll get a chance to shine on a bigger stage this year at Indiana after carrying Cal the past two seasons.”
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Mendoza’s no stranger to big moments, and he’s ready to shine at Indiana.
He’s learned how to keep his cool from his time at Cal, and now he gets to put that to work leading the Hoosiers. With the team looking to make some noise in the Big Ten, everyone’s going to be watching him this season.
If he shows what he can do, Mendoza could lift Indiana’s program and prove he’s one of the top quarterbacks in the country.