Curt Cignetti and Indiana were one of the best stories in college football in 2024. Their encore might be just as special.
Despite a tougher Big Ten schedule in 2025, the Hoosiers appear ready to compete for a return to the College Football Playoff, and their new quarterback is their guiding light.
Indiana turned to transfer Fernando Mendoza after Kurtis Rourke ran out of eligibility, bringing in some outside help who already had a unique connection to the program. So far, the results are exactly what Cignetti expected and more.
Mendoza enjoyed a breakthrough night against Illinois on Sept. 20, finishing 21-of-23 for 267 yards and five touchdowns in a near-flawless performance as the Hoosiers dismantled the Illini 63-10. Indiana's dominance served as a reminder to the Big Ten that 2024 was no fluke, even with a tough slate of games ahead.
Here's what you need to know about Mendoza and his teammate brother.
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Who is Fernando Mendoza?
Mendoza looks like he can be one of the stars of college football in 2025, but he only had three stars next to his name when he graduated from Miami-area Columbus High School in 2022.
Ranked as the No. 134 quarterback in his class by 247 Sports, Mendoza committed to California and redshirted his true freshman season before seeing considerable time under center in 2023. After throwing for 3,000 yards and limiting turnovers as Cal's full-time starter in 2024, Mendoza hit the transfer portal and landed at one of the Big Ten's newest premier destinations: Bloomington.
With Cignetti proving in 2024 that Indiana was serious about football, the program shelled out the money it took to land a sought-after quarterback and made Mendoza the successor to Rourke, tasked with sustaining the Hoosiers' historic success.
One key factor beyond money helped bring Mendoza to Bloomington: his brother. Here is more to know about his favorite teammate.
MORE: Four mind-blowing stats from Indiana's 73-0 win over Indiana State
Fernando Mendoza brother
Sitting on the Indiana quarterback depth chart behind Mendoza is his younger brother, Alberto Mendoza.
The younger Mendoza was similarly ranked coming out of high school, as he joined the Hoosiers as the No. 137 quarterback in the class of 2024. Alberto has yet to get the chance to prove whether he can become a capable starter like his brother, but the decision to extend an offer has already paid dividends for Indiana by indirectly leading to his brother joining the program.
The Mendozas both attended Columbus High School, but Fernando is markedly taller at 6-5 compared to Alberto's 6-2. Together, they make up one half of Indiana's quarterback room in 2025.
MORE: Why Jackson Arnold transferred from Oklahoma to Auburn
Fernando Mendoza ethnicity
Mendoza is the grandson of Cuban immigrants, and he pointed to his Cuban heritage as a "huge point of pride" in a 2025 conversation with On3.
"All my grandparents were born and raised in Cuba, three in Havana, one in Santiago, and so I’m extremely grateful for all the hardship that they’ve been through coming over and the whole part of being an immigrant, starting from the ground up and really laying a foundation," Mendoza said.
Mendoza revealed that he took a "transformative" trip back to Cuba with one of his grandfathers, allowing him to appreciate his heritage more than ever before. Mendoza grew up surrounded by a strong Cuban community in Miami, and he wears his heritage on his sleeve even as he plays in Bloomington.
Where did Fernando Mendoza transfer from?
Mendoza transferred from California after serving as the Golden Bears' starter in 2024. He chose the Hoosiers over Georgia and Missouri.
The redshirt junior spent his first three seasons in Berkeley, but he sought a new challenge with NIL deals skyrocketing after the 2024 season and the chance to play with his brother on his mind.