Indiana’s coaching staff went into 2025 knowing that it’d likely need to turn to the transfer portal for a new quarterback. Kurtis Rourke, who led the offense in Curt Cignetti’s debut season, was out of eligibility and off to the NFL.
One option quickly emerged over the others: California’s Fernando Mendoza, the older brother of freshman quarterback Alberto Mendoza, who’d committed to Cignetti and company at JMU and followed the staff to Bloomington.
Mendoza put up admirable numbers in two seasons
with the Golden Bears, but wasn’t able to find much team success. He took a jaw-dropping 41 sacks in 2024, still completing 68.7% of his passes for 16 touchdowns anyway.
He heard from the staff and ended up committing to join the Hoosiers. Now, just under a year later, he’s led Indiana to the first 11-0 start in program history and the No. 2 ranking in the AP top-25 poll, coaches poll and the College Football Playoff rankings.
Mendoza has completed 73% of his passes for 30 touchdowns and five interceptions, taking 15 sacks in the process. Those 30 touchdowns lead the Big Ten, and he has a chance to add to that number when Indiana travels north to face rival Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket in the final game of the 2025 season.
Now, on a bye week, Indiana has launched a Heisman Trophy campaign for Mendoza with the #HeisMendoza hashtag, used by members of the fanbase throughout the season. The campaign debuted with a video posted on the program’s social media and a link to a #HeisMendoza-themed LinkedIn account:
The LinkedIn theme comes from Mendoza’s studies. He earned a B.A. at Cal’s Haas School of Business and studies at Indiana’s Kelley School of Business. He previously stated during the season that LinkedIn is the only form of social media he’s actually used during the season.
