Texas quarterback Arch Manning is getting the most preseason hype, but the first quarterback off the board in next year’s NFL Draft may reside in Bloomington, Indiana.
The Hoosiers pulled off perhaps the most impactful yet unheralded move of the offseason when it added Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound quarterback put together a stellar 2024 season for the Bears, throwing for 3,004 yards, 16 touchdowns and just six interceptions, despite a porous offensive line that allowed the fifth-most sacks per game in college football.
In a creative offense led by Indiana coach Curt Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan, it’s not hard to imagine Mendoza taking another leap. In fact, he’s banking on it. Development was a big reason why he picked the Hoosiers over other options which included Georgia and Miami.
“To have an offensive-minded coaching staff was extremely important for me and to get that development was really important for me.” Mendoza told CBS Sports, “Because whenever I would talk to people — former coaches, mentors — they were like we really think you’re doing well but to take that next level and really get where you want to go aka the NFL, you really need to be a bit more polished and more consistent. That was a big thing I was looking to accomplish at Indiana.”
NFL draft experts are beginning to take notice of how Mendoza’s skillset mesh Indiana’s offense. CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards recently ranked him as the No. 11 overall prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft while Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice wrote last month, “Mendoza’s talent, along with his high football IQ, in an offense that pushes all the right buttons in a smorgasbord scheme has the potential for fireworks.” Tice ranked him as the No. 1 QB in the 2026 draft class.
Mendoza is similarly well aware of the success Cignetti and Co. have had with quarterbacks, including last year’s starter Kurtis Rourke — who threw for 3,042 yards and 29 touchdowns and finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Indiana helped turn Rourke — a successful yet largely unknown quarterback coming from Ohio — into an NFL draft pick and the leader of a team that surprised the nation.
Mendoza’s younger brother, Albert, is already on the roster and gave him the inside scoop on what led to the Hoosiers’ remarkable 11-2 first-year turnaround under Cignetti.
“To see a lot of those under-recruited guys such as myself experience the development, to see the own development my brother has taken in that year’s step has been crazy, something that maybe I’ve only accomplished in two or three years,” Mendoza said. “I can see the step that he’s been taking and how detailed and how great the quarterback coaching this year was really attractive to me.”
That doesn’t mean it was easy for Mendoza to leave Cal after starting 19 games for the Bears over the last two seasons. He was part of a Cal star exodus this offseason that included running back Jaydn Ott (Oklahoma) and tight end Jack Endries (Texas). As CBS Sports previously detailed, it has been a newsy offseason for all the wrong reasons for Cal with new offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin reportedly accelerating player departures and a power struggle between Cal administrators and boosters over the role of new general manager Ron Rivera. Rivera won the battle as Cal coach Justin Wilcox will report to him while AD Jim Knowlton recently announced his retirement.
For someone who gave so much to the Cal program, the dispersion of Cal stars has been sad for Mendoza to watch play out.
“At the end of the day, I feel a little bit guilty because I feel like if I would have stayed maybe there would have been a greater chance of all three of us staying together because of that connection we had,” he said. “We’re in the huddle Jaydn talking to Jack, I’m talking to Jack, we’re all talking to each other as a core leadership group. But at the same moment we’re all still good friends and we all wish Cal the best. It feels a little sad that something we helped to build kind of crumble a little bit.”
When Mendoza reflects back on his final season at Cal, it’s hard not to wonder what if. The Golden Bears started the season 3-0, including a road win over Auburn that Mendoza calls one of the highlights of his time in Berkeley. It set the stage for a Week 5 primetime game against No. 8 Miami with College GameDay in town for the occasion. His team built a 35-10 lead with 8:06 left in the third quarter and … lost.
Cal gave up two touchdowns with less than five minutes left in the game, including one with only 26 seconds left — a devastating result for a team that seemed primed for a defining victory. The loss was the beginning of the end for what Mendoza calls the most talented team he’s ever played with. A 3-0 start quickly turned to 3-4 with those four losses by a combined nine points.
“We had a ton of heartbreaking losses to a point that was back-breaking for some people such as myself,” Mendoza said.
“I think the nature of the Cal team, this version, would be extremely different if we had won that game,” Mendoza said. “We played Florida State and we lost on the last second. We played Miami and we lost on the last second. We lost to Pitt in the last minute of the game. And then we played NC State where we lost in the last minute of the game. Those four back-to-back-to-back-to-back losses that’s 3-0 to 3-4. That was back-breaking.
“We were able to take it back on the road and get some more wins and be bowl-eligible but losing that many in the row …”
Now in Bloomington, Mendoza leads a program that made last year’s College Football Playoff but is ready for more. With a returning group that includes star receiver Elijah Sarratt (53 catches for 957 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024), Mendoza has the ability to elevate the Hoosiers and his draft stock with a big 2025 season.
He might not be a household name yet, but if Mendoza accomplishes what those around the Indiana program believe he can, a lot of NFL fans will be reading about him come April.
Peegs.com brings fans trusted coverage from a dedicated team of insiders. With 20+ years of experience and a staff that includes Jeff Rabjohns, Matt Weaver, Trevor Andershock, Jared Kelly, the site delivers daily updates, recruiting scoop, and team news. Peegs.com is the market leader in coverage of Indiana athletics! Join the conversation on and experience the power of the Peegs.com community. Want even more? Sign up for a VIP membership now and unlock all the insider content and features today.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Real ovládl skupinu na MS klubů. V osmifinále vyzve dalšího evropského giganta
Podrobnosti připravujeme.Mistrovství světa fotbalových klubů:Skupina H:Nashville: al-Hilál - Pachuca 2:0 (1:0)Branky: 23. Davsárí, 90.+5 Leonardo.Filadelfie: Salcburk - Real Madrid 0:3 (0:2)Branky: 40. Vinícius Júnior, 45.+3 Valverde, 84. García.Skupina H:1.Real Madrid32107:272.al-Hilál31203:153.Salcburk31112:444.Pachuca30032:70
Appleby and Prescott-trained fillies do battle for Newcastle Group 3 honours
Potentially-smart types Diamond Rain and Tasmania look the ones to beat in this afternoon's feature from Gosforth Park, Newcastle.7.05 Newcastle - Diamond Rain and Tasmania fancied for Group 3Classy performers Diamond Rain and Tasmania contest the feature Group 3 Hoppings Fillies' Stakes at Newcastle. Charlie Appleby's Diamond Rain showed useful form as a three-year-old and returned with a sparkling success in a Listed race at Haydock. Currently rated 106, she deserves a crack at this prize and should stay further down the line too.Tasmania is a fascinating runner for the Sir Mark Prescott team as she reappears from a year's absence. Rated 107, she showed a high level of form when trained in France before disappointing in the Group 1 Pretty Polly. This should be more suitable and the services of Newcastle specialist Paul Mulrennan will help.Others to note include […]
Vůbec jsem to od něj nečekal, reaguje šéf Oktagonu na Véghovu zlobu
Végh si v podcastu slovenského rappera Rytmuse stěžoval zejména na výkony bodových sudích, kteří jednomyslně označili za vítěze Terminátora. Uváděl také to, že se v pětikolovém napínavém zápase necítil být ani jednou v ohrožení, ale naopak se sám blížil ve třetím kole k ukončení. Rovněž vyvrátil že by česko-slovenskou MMA rivalitu opanoval lepší bojovník, byť s Vémolou má nadále kamarádský vztah. Několikrát také zmínil, že vítězi stačilo držet otěže souboje u pletiva.„Překvapilo mě to, vůbec jsem to od něj nečekal. Když totiž člověk cítí, že ten zápas byl špatně bodovaný, což bychom měli tak cítit všichni, tak se to řeší hned po zápase. Objeví se nějaké komentáře, že by to mělo být jinak, a i tým kolem zápasníka je nespokojený a nějak to řeší. Teď s tím byli všichni oukej. Attila se krásně v kleci rozloučil. Bylo to hezké sportovní gesto, které se hodí k takové legendě,“ odhaluje Neruda pozápasové chvíle.Foto: […]
Trent Alexander-Arnold on ‘amazing’ Real Madrid welcome and Alonso help – ‘Winning trophies is what we do’
Trent Alexander-Arnold has praised the Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso and his new team-mates for “going out of their way” to make him feel welcome after his summer move from Liverpool.Alexander-Arnold joined up with Real Madrid for the FIFA Club World Cup and enjoyed his most accomplished performance yet for the Spanish side during Thursday evening’s 3-0 win over RB Salzburg. The result means Madrid topped their group and they now play Juventus in the round of 16 on Tuesday.AdvertisementThe England international agreed to join as a free agent, although Madrid paid €10million (£8.4m; $11.4m) to sign him before his contract expired on June 30, meaning he could begin his new career at this summer’s tournament.Speaking to reporters after the game, the 26-year-old discussed how Alonso’s one-on-one guidance is helping him overcome the language barrier, how the coach could […]
Club World Cup power rankings: How the last 16 contenders shape up
And with that, we’re onto the knockout rounds.For all of the uncertainty about the on-field standard of this first expanded Club World Cup, the group stage provided plenty of thrills. From an opening weekend 10-goal win to clubs from Brazil and MLS toppling perennial UEFA Champions League qualifiers, many teams will have built a surprisingly robust highlight reel — even those whose tournaments ended before the round of 16.AdvertisementWith a gap day to catch our collective breath before the bracket begins playing out, it’s time to give a hefty update to our running Club World Cup power rankings. There are bound to be movers and shakers as teams know their matchups and paths to the final at MetLife Stadium. At this stage, we can’t dwell much longer on group performances as a series of one-off contests looms. As such, some […]
Rose Lavelle Returns From Injury To The USWNT and Scores In Win Over Ireland
<!--> Rose Lavelle scored in her first national team match of the year after ankle surgery and the United States defeated Ireland 4-0 on Thursday night.Avery Patterson, Sam Coffey and Alyssa Thompson also scored for the United States. Lavelle last played for the national team in December against the Netherlands.Patterson, making her third start for the national team, scored on a header off a short corner from Lavelle in the 18th minute. It was her first international goal."It's surreal. I think at halftime someone asked me what was going through my head, and I don't think I fully came down and realized what had happened until two water breaks afterward," Patterson laughed. "I need to watch it again because I kind of blacked out."Coffey added a goal before halftime, with a shot that cut across to the far post. It […]
Related
Real ovládl skupinu na MS klubů. V osmifinále vyzve dalšího evropského giganta
Podrobnosti připravujeme.Mistrovství světa fotbalových klubů:Skupina H:Nashville: al-Hilál - Pachuca 2:0 (1:0)Branky: 23. Davsárí, 90.+5 Leonardo.Filadelfie: Salcburk - Real Madrid 0:3 (0:2)Branky: 40. Vinícius Júnior, 45.+3 Valverde, 84. García.Skupina H:1.Real Madrid32107:272.al-Hilál31203:153.Salcburk31112:444.Pachuca30032:70
Appleby and Prescott-trained fillies do battle for Newcastle Group 3 honours
Potentially-smart types Diamond Rain and Tasmania look the ones to beat in this afternoon's feature from Gosforth Park, Newcastle.7.05 Newcastle - Diamond Rain and Tasmania fancied for Group 3Classy performers Diamond Rain and Tasmania contest the feature Group 3 Hoppings Fillies' Stakes at Newcastle. Charlie Appleby's Diamond Rain showed useful form as a three-year-old and returned with a sparkling success in a Listed race at Haydock. Currently rated 106, she deserves a crack at this prize and should stay further down the line too.Tasmania is a fascinating runner for the Sir Mark Prescott team as she reappears from a year's absence. Rated 107, she showed a high level of form when trained in France before disappointing in the Group 1 Pretty Polly. This should be more suitable and the services of Newcastle specialist Paul Mulrennan will help.Others to note include […]
Vůbec jsem to od něj nečekal, reaguje šéf Oktagonu na Véghovu zlobu
Végh si v podcastu slovenského rappera Rytmuse stěžoval zejména na výkony bodových sudích, kteří jednomyslně označili za vítěze Terminátora. Uváděl také to, že se v pětikolovém napínavém zápase necítil být ani jednou v ohrožení, ale naopak se sám blížil ve třetím kole k ukončení. Rovněž vyvrátil že by česko-slovenskou MMA rivalitu opanoval lepší bojovník, byť s Vémolou má nadále kamarádský vztah. Několikrát také zmínil, že vítězi stačilo držet otěže souboje u pletiva.„Překvapilo mě to, vůbec jsem to od něj nečekal. Když totiž člověk cítí, že ten zápas byl špatně bodovaný, což bychom měli tak cítit všichni, tak se to řeší hned po zápase. Objeví se nějaké komentáře, že by to mělo být jinak, a i tým kolem zápasníka je nespokojený a nějak to řeší. Teď s tím byli všichni oukej. Attila se krásně v kleci rozloučil. Bylo to hezké sportovní gesto, které se hodí k takové legendě,“ odhaluje Neruda pozápasové chvíle.Foto: […]
Trent Alexander-Arnold on ‘amazing’ Real Madrid welcome and Alonso help – ‘Winning trophies is what we do’
Trent Alexander-Arnold has praised the Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso and his new team-mates for “going out of their way” to make him feel welcome after his summer move from Liverpool.Alexander-Arnold joined up with Real Madrid for the FIFA Club World Cup and enjoyed his most accomplished performance yet for the Spanish side during Thursday evening’s 3-0 win over RB Salzburg. The result means Madrid topped their group and they now play Juventus in the round of 16 on Tuesday.AdvertisementThe England international agreed to join as a free agent, although Madrid paid €10million (£8.4m; $11.4m) to sign him before his contract expired on June 30, meaning he could begin his new career at this summer’s tournament.Speaking to reporters after the game, the 26-year-old discussed how Alonso’s one-on-one guidance is helping him overcome the language barrier, how the coach could […]
Club World Cup power rankings: How the last 16 contenders shape up
And with that, we’re onto the knockout rounds.For all of the uncertainty about the on-field standard of this first expanded Club World Cup, the group stage provided plenty of thrills. From an opening weekend 10-goal win to clubs from Brazil and MLS toppling perennial UEFA Champions League qualifiers, many teams will have built a surprisingly robust highlight reel — even those whose tournaments ended before the round of 16.AdvertisementWith a gap day to catch our collective breath before the bracket begins playing out, it’s time to give a hefty update to our running Club World Cup power rankings. There are bound to be movers and shakers as teams know their matchups and paths to the final at MetLife Stadium. At this stage, we can’t dwell much longer on group performances as a series of one-off contests looms. As such, some […]
Rose Lavelle Returns From Injury To The USWNT and Scores In Win Over Ireland
<!--> Rose Lavelle scored in her first national team match of the year after ankle surgery and the United States defeated Ireland 4-0 on Thursday night.Avery Patterson, Sam Coffey and Alyssa Thompson also scored for the United States. Lavelle last played for the national team in December against the Netherlands.Patterson, making her third start for the national team, scored on a header off a short corner from Lavelle in the 18th minute. It was her first international goal."It's surreal. I think at halftime someone asked me what was going through my head, and I don't think I fully came down and realized what had happened until two water breaks afterward," Patterson laughed. "I need to watch it again because I kind of blacked out."Coffey added a goal before halftime, with a shot that cut across to the far post. It […]
Be the first to leave a comment