QB Fernando Mendoza Transfers From Cal to Indiana

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Ranked the No. 2 quarterback in the Transfer Portal by On3, Fernando Mendoza has transferred from the Cal Golden Bears to the Indiana Hoosiers. After two years in which he started 19 games for Cal, the 21-year-old, 6-foot-5, 225-pound signal-caller has two remaining years of NCAA eligibility.

The Golden Bears' loss is Indiana's gain, as Mendoza will step in to replace Kurtis Rourke, who led the Hoosiers to a College Football Playoff berth in his final collegiate season. Based on his performance in his two seasons with Cal, Mendoza was one of the most coveted players in the Portal. He now joins his younger brother, Alberto, who is a backup QB for the Hoosiers.

Fernando Mendoza Stats

Before missing the Golden Bears' final two games, Mendoza put up excellent numbers in his redshirt sophomore campaign, completing 68.65 percent of his passes for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns, with only 6 interceptions. Also a capable runner, Mendoza gained 341 yards on 87 attempts with 2 rushing TDs.

In nine games played as a redshirt freshman, he threw for 1,708 yards and 14 TDs, while gaining 215 yards on the ground with 2 more TDs.

Significantly, for Cal fans, Mendoza led the Golden Bears to consecutive victories over the Stanford Cardinal in the 126th and 127th iterations of the Big Game.

Significance of the Transfer

Mendoza leaves Berkeley, Calif., where legendary QBs Aaron Rodgers and Jared Goff starred and joins the Hoosiers program which has long played second fiddle to the university's basketball team. Per The Athletic, motivating factors for Mendoza in the transfer were becoming a teammate of his younger brother and

Indiana's recent hiring of Atlanta Falcons' passing game specialist Chandler Whitmer who will serve as the Hoosiers' QB coach.

According to Cal alumnus and journalist Avinash Kunnath, Mendoza "endeared himself to a wide portion of the fanbase with his earnestness, his passion and his genuine enthusiasm to be a Golden Bear." His departure is an unpleasant culmination to a disappointing 2024 campaign for Cal.

Mendoza joins a football program on the rise in Bloomington, Ind.. led by Associated Press Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti. Meanwhile, the Golden Bears will need to scramble to find their starting QB for the 2025 season. They will likely turn to the Portal themselves. Redshirt sophomore CJ Harris served as one of Mendoza's backups but has seen only limited action.