Indiana University Athletics
Football Roster
Jersey Number 15
Fernando Mendoza
- Position:
- QB
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-5 / 225
- Year:
- Redshirt Junior
- Hometown:
- Miami, Fla.
- High School:
- Christopher Columbus
- Prev School:
- California
Career Notes & Records
Indiana’s first Heisman Trophy winner ... Tabbed winner of Maxwell and Walter Camp Award ... Earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cal in three years ... Paid for his final three class at Cal in summer of 2025 while already enrolled at Indiana ... Appeared in 25 career games with 34 starts ... Played in 20 games with 19 starts over three seasons at California (2022-24) and redshirted initial collegiate season ... Threw first touchdown pass as a Hoosier against Kennesaw State (9/6) in Week 2 ... Combined with brother, Alberto, against Kennesaw State to become the first set of brothers to throw touchdown passes for the same team in the same FBS game since Brady and Austin Allen of Arkansas in 2015 versus UT Martin ... Third Hoosier to earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year with Anthony Thompson (1988 & 1989) and Antwaan Randle El (2001) ... Just the seventh IU signal caller and first since Randle El in 2001 to earn first-team All-B1G honors ... Is just the third time since 1950 a Hoosier took the first team spot at quarterback along with Randle EL and Harry Gonso (1967). Cal Records: Finished career as the all-time leader in completion percentage (66.4%) and tied for No. 7 in 250-yard passing games (10) at Cal ... Equaled the marks of Gale Gilbert (10; 1980-84) and Aaron Rodgers (10; 2003-04) in career 250-yard passing games at Cal. Game: Set Indiana single-game mark for completion percentage at .950 (19-of-20) when he hit his first 14 passes to start the game versus Indiana State (9/12) ... Also ranks No. 2 (.917; Wisconsin), No. 3 (.913; Illinois) and T-No. 4 (.857; Michigan State) on the completion percentage charts (min. 20 attempts) ... Tied for No. 4 on the single-game touchdown passes chart with five against Indiana State (9/12) ... Accounted for six total touchdowns (5 passing, 1 rushing) against Indiana State (9/12) to tie Bob Hoernschemeyer (6 passing; at Nebraska, 1943), Levron Williams (6 rushing; at Wisconsin, 2001), Tre Roberson (6 passing; Purdue, 2013) and Kurtis Rourke (6 passing; Purdue, 2024) for the program single-game mark ... Set the Rose Bowl Game record for completion percentage (.875) and passer rating (250.17). Season: Broke Kellen Lewis’ (38; 2006-08) single-season mark for most touchdowns accounted for in a single season at IU against Ohio State (12/6) with No. 39 on a passing touchdown and has 47 on the year ... Is the first Hoosier with a 30-passing touchdown season and ranks tied for No. 3 in Big Ten history for season touchdown passes (41) ... Posted the sixth 3,000-yard passing season in IU history and ranks No. 3 on the single-season list with 3,349 yards passing ... Ranks tied for No. 1 on the season list in 200-yard passing games (10). Career: Ranks No. 6 on the career passing touchdowns list (41).
NCAA Active Leaders (as of Jan. 13): Sits No. 4 in FBS and No. 2 in the Big Ten in completion percentage (.688) ... Ranks No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (230.3) ... Is No. 8 in FBS and No. 3 in the Big Ten in passing efficiency (157.23) ... Ranks tied for No. 12 in FBS and leads the Big Ten in total touchdowns responsible for (82) ... Sits tied for No. 19 nationally, No. 5 among juniors and No. 2 in the Big Ten in passing completions (675) ... Currently No. 20 nationally and No. 3 in the Big Ten in yards passing (8,061) ... Is No. 24 nationally and No. 3 in the Big Ten in total offense (8,542).
2025 (Redshirt-Junior Season)
Season: Started all 15 games ... Leads the FBS in passing touchdowns (41) ... Leads Power 4 in touchdowns accounted for (47) ... Made Indiana debut in a start of the season opener against Old Dominion (8/30) ... Has not played five total quarters on the season (3rd & 4th, Indiana State; 4th, Illinois; 4th, UCLA; 4th. at Purdue) based on game situation.
Notes to Know: Became Indiana’s first-ever Heisman Trophy winner and the first in the Big Ten since 2006 (Troy Smith, Ohio State) ... Is the second Hoosier to earn the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award, joining running back Anthony Thompson (1989) ...First IU quarterback to earn the Davey O’Brien Award ... Third Big Ten quarterback since 2000 with three-straight games of at least four passing touchdowns and zero interceptions - C.J. Stroud (Ohio State; 2021) and Kyle Orton (Purdue; 2004, four straight) ... Only FBS quarterback since at least 1996 with multiple games of at least 90 percent completion and four touchdown passes versus Power 4 opponents ... Only FBS quarterback with six games of 4-plus touchdown passes and zero interceptions ... Leads the FBS in highest percentage of passes that result in a touchdown at 11.6%, over two points higher than the next closest passer (Julian Sayin, Ohio State; 8.7%).
Awards: Bowl: Named Peach Bowl Offensive MVP. Season: Winner of the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp National Player of the Year awards ... Earned the Davey O’Brien Award ... Named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 5 ... Finalist for the Manning Award ... Named first-team All-America from the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of American and Walter Camp Football Foundation ... Tabbed second-team All-America by The Sporting News ... Also earned All-America accolades from The Athletic (1st), Pro Football Focus (1st), Sports Illustrated (1st), CBS Sports (2nd) and On3 (2nd) ... Earned Grange-Griffin Big Ten Championship Game MVP ... Named the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year and Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year ... Selected first-team All-Big Ten by the conference media and coaches panels. Weekly: Tabbed Named the Maxwell Award National Player of the Week, AP National Player of the Week, Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week and Big Ten Co-Player of the Week after a Week 4 victory over Illinois (9/20) ... Added East-West Shrine Bowl Monday Morning Quarterback, Senior Bowl Stock Up Player of the Week and Manning Awards Stars of the Week honors following Week 4 ... Earned Davey O’Brien Award Great 8 following Week 7 ... Honored with Big Ten’s Co-Offensive Player of the Week after Week 12 against Wisconsin (11/15) ... Selected to Davey O’Brien Great 8 and Manning Award Starts of the Week honor rolls after Week 12 against the Badgers.
Old Dominion (8/30): Made Indiana debut and produced 226 yards of total offense ... Completed 18-of-31 passes for 193 yards passing ... Rushed six times for 33 yards and one touchdown ... Scored IU’s first offensive touchdown with a 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Kennesaw State (9/6): Completed 18-of-25 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns ... Rushed three times for 20 yards ... First touchdown pass as a Hoosier came to Elijah Sarratt from 9 yards out in the first quarter ... Also found Sarratt on touchdown passes of 3 and 20 yards ... Fourth touchdown pass went to E.J. Williams Jr. in the fourth quarter ... Combined with brother, Fernando, against Kennesaw State to become the first set of brothers to throw touchdown passes for the same team in the same FBS game since Brady and Austin Allen of Arkansas in 2015 versus UT Martin. Indiana State (9/12): Completed first 14 passes of the game on the way to IU’s single-game completion percentage mark (.950) on 19-of-20 passing ... Threw for 270 yards and five touchdowns ... Rushed six times for 19 yards and one touchdown ... Opened the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run ... Touchdown passes covered 13, 13, 18, 4 and 31 yards - all in the first half ... Six touchdowns accounted for tied the program record with four other Hoosiers. Illinois (9/20): Connected on 21-of-23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns ... 16 of his 21 completions went for a first down or touchdown ... Completed his final 15 passes of the game ... His .910 completion percentage ranks No. 3 on the IU single-game completion percentage charts ... Rushed seven times for 4 yards (two sacks went for minus-14 yards) ... Hit Omar Cooper Jr. for an 11-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter ... Found three different receivers for touchdown passes in the second quarter: E.J. Williams Jr. (11 yards), Riley Nowakowski (43 yards), Elijah Sarratt (9 yards) ... Tossed a 5-yard scoring pass to Sarratt in the third quarter. at Iowa (9/27): Threw for 233 yards on 13-of-23 passing with two touchdowns ... Gained 26 yards on eight rushing attempts (two sacks) ... Connected with Omar Cooper Jr. a 14-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to open the scoring ... Found Elijah Sarratt on a zero blitz in the fourth quarter for the 49-yard go-ahead touchdown with under 2:00 in the game. at Oregon (10/11): Threw for 215 yards on 20-of-31 passing and one touchdown pass ... Rushed six times for 31 yards ... Following a pick 6 by Oregon, orchestrated a 75-yard touchdown drive that gave IU a 27-20 lead and was the eventual game-winning score. Michigan State (10/18): Completed 24-of-28 passes for 332 yards and four touchdowns ... Did not throw an interception ... Rushed for 18 yards on five carries ... Tossed two scoring strikes in each half ... Connected with E.J. Williams Jr. (13 yards) and Elijah Sarratt (24 yards) for touchdowns in the first half ... Hit Omar Cooper Jr. on a 48-yard touchdown in the third quarter ... Final scoring pass went 27 yards to Sarratt in the third quarter. UCLA (10/25): Totaled 213 yards of total offense ... Passed for 168 yards on 15-of-22 passing with three touchdowns and one interception ... Gained 45 yards rushing on five carries with one touchdown ... Connected with Elijah Sarratt (13 yards) and E.J. Williams Jr. (2 yards) on second-quarter touchdown passes ... Scrambled for a 20-yard touchdown run to open the third quarter ... Hit Williams Jr. on a 62-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. at Maryland (11/1): Logged 225 yards of total offense with two touchdowns accounted for ... Completed 14-of-21 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown ... Gained 24 yards on four carries with one touchdown ... Ran for a 7-yard touchdown in the first quarter to get IU on the scoreboard ... Connected with Omar Cooper Jr. on a second-quarter touchdown pass of 22 yards. at Penn State (11/8): Orchestrated Indiana’s first game-winning touchdown drive with 2:00 or less remaining in regulation since 1998 with a 5-for-8 passing effort and 87 yards that culminated in a 7-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to Omar Cooper Jr. ... Threw for 218 yards in the game on 19-of-30 passing with one touchdown and one interception ... Rushed for 20 yards on six carries and one touchdown ... Opened the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown rush in the first quarter. Wisconsin (11/15): Completed 22-of-24 passes for a .917 completion percentage - which is No. 3 on the IU single-game charts ... Connected on four touchdown passes to set the single-season Indiana record at 30 touchdown passes ... Hit Charlie Becker on a 31-yard scoring pass in the first quarter ... Found Holden Staes for a 2-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter ... Connected with Riley Nowakowski on a 21-yard score in the third quarter ... Hit Omar Cooper Jr. on a 5-yard touchdown strike in the fourth quarter to set the IU single-season passing touchdowns mark. at Purdue (11/28): Accounted for three touchdowns with two passing and one rushing - his fifth game with a rushing and passing score on the season ... Threw for 117 yards on 8-of-15 passing in the coldest game in Ross-Ade Stadium history (24 degrees) ... Ran twice for 27 yards and was not sacked ... Ran for a 7-yard touchdown in the first quarter ... Hit Elijah Sarratt on a 17-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter ... Connected with Omar Cooper Jr. on a 43-yard touchdown in the third quarter. vs. Ohio State (12/6): Completed 15-of-23 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown ... Hit Elijah Sarratt for a 17-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to give Indiana the lead for good. vs. Alabama (1/1): Completed a Rose Bowl Game-record 87.5% of his passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns ... Connected with three different receivers for touchdowns: Charlie Becker (2Q; 21 yards), Omar Cooper Jr. (2Q; 1 yard) and Elijah Sarratt (3Q; 24 yards) ... Gained 16 yards on eight carries. vs. Oregon (1/9): Completed 17-of-20 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns ... Gained 28 yards on six rushing attempts ... First scoring strike went for 1 yard to Omar Cooper Jr. in the first quarter ... Found Charlie Becker (36 yards) and Elijah Sarratt (2 yards) on second-quarter scoring passes ... Connected with E.J. Williams Jr. on a 13-yard touchdown in the third quarter ... Capped his day with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Sarratt in the fourth quarter.
2024 (Sophomore Season - California)
Awards: Three-time ACC Quarterback of the Week.
Season: Started the first 11 games of the season ... Missed the final regular season game of the season versus SMU (11/30) due to illness ... Entered the transfer portal prior to the LA Bowl ... Produced just the ninth 3,000-yard passing season in California history (3,004 yards) ... Finished top-10 on Cal's single-season passing charts in total offense yards (No. 7; 3,109 yards), passing efficiency (No. 8; 144.59) and yards passing (No. 9; 3,004 yards).
UC Davis (8/31): Completed 15-of-22 passes for 158 yards and one touchdown ... Rushed twice for 2 yards ... Tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to cap the scoring in the fourth quarter. at Auburn (9/7): Hit on 25-of-36 passes for 233 yards ... Added 12 yards rushing on five carries ... Both touchdown passes came in the first half ... Connected on scoring passes for 19 and 13 yards. San Diego State (9/14): Threw for 198 yards on 21-of-29 passing and two touchdowns ... Also scored one touchdown rushing ... Opened Cal’s scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run in the first quarter ... Threw a third-quarter touchdown pass of 20 yards ... Tossed a 15-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. at Florida State (9/21): Produced first-career 300-yard passing game ... Threw for 303 yards on 22-of-36 passing. Miami (Fla.) (10/5): Completed 11-of-22 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns ... Gained 20 yards on six carries ... Threw first-half touchdown passes of 57 yards and 66 yards. at Pittsburgh (10/12): Threw for 272 yards on 27-of-37 passing and one touchdown ... Completed fourth-quarter touchdown pass of 19 yards. NC State (10/19): Had 282 yards on 30-of-42 passing. Oregon State (10/26): Tossed two touchdown passes as part of a 27-of-36 afternoon and 346 yards passing and two touchdowns ... Marked second-career 300-yard passing game ... Gained 25 yards on five carries ... Accounted for the first two touchdowns of the game in the first quarter ... First touchdown of the game was a 15-yard touchdown pass that he threw and then ran in for the score on a lateral ... Also connected on a 20-yard touchdown pass. at Wake Forest (11/8): Posted third-career 300-yard passing game on 40-of-56 passing for 385 yards ... Threw two touchdown passes ... Scored one rushing touchdown with five carries for 51 yards ... Tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter ... Connected on a 2-yard scoring pass in the second quarter ... Rushed for a 5-yard score in the third quarter. Syracuse (11/16): Posted 225 yards passing on 22-of-34 passing with one touchdown ... Final score of the game was a 5-yard touchdown pass. Stanford (11/23): Threw for 299 yards on 25-of-36 passing and three touchdowns ... Carried 11 times for 35 yards ... Hit on a 16-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter ... Threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns: 30 and 22 yards.
2023 (Redshirt Freshman Season - California)
Awards: Honored with Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honorable mention by the conference coaches ... Fourth-team All-Pac-12 per Phil Steele ... Earned Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll ... Named Cal’s Jonathan and Judy Hoff Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Season: Appeared in nine games with eight starts ... Starts came in each of the final eight games of the season ... Made collegiate debut in season opener at North Texas (9/2) ... First collegiate start came versus Oregon State (10/7).
at North Texas (9/2): Made collegiate debut ... Attempted one pass. Oregon State (10/7): First collegiate start featured 207 yards passing and two touchdowns ... Completed 21-of-32 passes ... Rushed four times for 41 yards ... First collegiate touchdown pass covered 9 yards in the second quarter ... Connected on a 30-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. at Utah (10/14): Completed 10-of-17 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns ... Added seven carries for 12 yards ... Tossed a 48-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter ... Added a 24-yard scoring strike in the third quarter. USC (10/28): Posted 340 yards of total offense and accounted for four total touchdowns ... Scored first collegiate rushing touchdown ... Completed 25-of-39 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns ... Rushed for 48 yards on eight carries with two scores ... Touchdown passes covered 17 and 13 yards ... Rushed for a 2-yard score in the second quarter and a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter. at Oregon (11/4): Threw for 177 yards on 18-of-34 passing. Washington State (11/11): Completed 14-of-21 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns ... Added seven carries for 5 yards ... Threw a 6-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter ... Added a 13-yard scoring pass in the second quarter. at Stanford (11/18): Threw three touchdown passes as part of a 294-yard passing effort ... Completed 24-of-36 passes ... Connected on touchdown passes of 9, 54 and 8 yards. at UCLA (11/25): Threw for 178 yards on 19-of-30 passing with two touchdowns ... Hit on touchdown passes for 14 and 13 yards in the game. vs. Texas Tech (12/16): Completed 22-of-33 passes for 261 yards and one touchdown ... Carried 11 times for 12 yards ... Opened the scoring with a 25-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
2022 (Freshman Season - California)
Season: Did not appear in a game and redshirted initial collegiate season.
Prep/Personal
Quarterback for head coach Dave Dunn at Christopher Columbus High School ... Spent freshman season at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School ... Rated a three-star prospect per ESPN, 247Sports and On3 ... Tabbed the No. 72 quarterback nationally per ESPN ... Selected team captain as a junior and senior ... Tabbed first-team All-Dade Count as a junior ... Career totals included 224-of-332 (.675) passing for 2,222 yards and 29 touchdowns ... Completed 107-of-169 passes (.633) for 1,109 yards with 11 touchdowns as a 2021 senior ... Helped CCHS reach as high the nation’s No. 14 team before opting out of the FHSAA postseason due to COVID-19 ... Threw for 1,086 yards on 91-of-129 passing and 13 touchdowns ... Sophomore campaign featured an FHSAA 8A state title as the backup quarterback ... Completed 26-of-34 passes (.765) for 227 yards with five touchdowns ... Participated in the Elite 11 Regional and UnderArmour All-American Camp Regional ... Named MVP of the Rivals Miami Wilson Connected camp ... Also lettered in tennis ... Campus ministry president, school vice president, social media director for the honors program while at CCHS ... Nominee for the Silver Knight Award given to a select group of students who have an outstanding academic history and an impressive community service record ... Son of Elsa and Fernando Mendoza ... Brother, Alberto, is a redshirt freshman quarterback at Indiana ... Born October 1, 2003 ... Coordinated the Christopher Columbus High School Turkey Drive in which 436 turkeys were given to families in need in Miami-Dade County ... Founding member of They Can Too, a global organization dedicated to helping and spreading awareness for youth in need ... Organized a Cuban Relief Service trip in which he and his grandfather, Alberto Espino, went to Cuba to give to back to their native community, locals and family members ... One of three hosts of the 2024 Golden Buddies Football Clinic for youth with and without disabilities while at Cal.
Indiana’s first Heisman Trophy winner ... Tabbed winner of Maxwell and Walter Camp Award ... Earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cal in three years ... Paid for his final three class at Cal in summer of 2025 while already enrolled at Indiana ... Appeared in 25 career games with 34 starts ... Played in 20 games with 19 starts over three seasons at California (2022-24) and redshirted initial collegiate season ... Threw first touchdown pass as a Hoosier against Kennesaw State (9/6) in Week 2 ... Combined with brother, Alberto, against Kennesaw State to become the first set of brothers to throw touchdown passes for the same team in the same FBS game since Brady and Austin Allen of Arkansas in 2015 versus UT Martin ... Third Hoosier to earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year with Anthony Thompson (1988 & 1989) and Antwaan Randle El (2001) ... Just the seventh IU signal caller and first since Randle El in 2001 to earn first-team All-B1G honors ... Is just the third time since 1950 a Hoosier took the first team spot at quarterback along with Randle EL and Harry Gonso (1967). Cal Records: Finished career as the all-time leader in completion percentage (66.4%) and tied for No. 7 in 250-yard passing games (10) at Cal ... Equaled the marks of Gale Gilbert (10; 1980-84) and Aaron Rodgers (10; 2003-04) in career 250-yard passing games at Cal. Game: Set Indiana single-game mark for completion percentage at .950 (19-of-20) when he hit his first 14 passes to start the game versus Indiana State (9/12) ... Also ranks No. 2 (.917; Wisconsin), No. 3 (.913; Illinois) and T-No. 4 (.857; Michigan State) on the completion percentage charts (min. 20 attempts) ... Tied for No. 4 on the single-game touchdown passes chart with five against Indiana State (9/12) ... Accounted for six total touchdowns (5 passing, 1 rushing) against Indiana State (9/12) to tie Bob Hoernschemeyer (6 passing; at Nebraska, 1943), Levron Williams (6 rushing; at Wisconsin, 2001), Tre Roberson (6 passing; Purdue, 2013) and Kurtis Rourke (6 passing; Purdue, 2024) for the program single-game mark ... Set the Rose Bowl Game record for completion percentage (.875) and passer rating (250.17). Season: Broke Kellen Lewis’ (38; 2006-08) single-season mark for most touchdowns accounted for in a single season at IU against Ohio State (12/6) with No. 39 on a passing touchdown and has 47 on the year ... Is the first Hoosier with a 30-passing touchdown season and ranks tied for No. 3 in Big Ten history for season touchdown passes (41) ... Posted the sixth 3,000-yard passing season in IU history and ranks No. 3 on the single-season list with 3,349 yards passing ... Ranks tied for No. 1 on the season list in 200-yard passing games (10). Career: Ranks No. 6 on the career passing touchdowns list (41).
NCAA Active Leaders (as of Jan. 13): Sits No. 4 in FBS and No. 2 in the Big Ten in completion percentage (.688) ... Ranks No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (230.3) ... Is No. 8 in FBS and No. 3 in the Big Ten in passing efficiency (157.23) ... Ranks tied for No. 12 in FBS and leads the Big Ten in total touchdowns responsible for (82) ... Sits tied for No. 19 nationally, No. 5 among juniors and No. 2 in the Big Ten in passing completions (675) ... Currently No. 20 nationally and No. 3 in the Big Ten in yards passing (8,061) ... Is No. 24 nationally and No. 3 in the Big Ten in total offense (8,542).
2025 (Redshirt-Junior Season)
Season: Started all 15 games ... Leads the FBS in passing touchdowns (41) ... Leads Power 4 in touchdowns accounted for (47) ... Made Indiana debut in a start of the season opener against Old Dominion (8/30) ... Has not played five total quarters on the season (3rd & 4th, Indiana State; 4th, Illinois; 4th, UCLA; 4th. at Purdue) based on game situation.
Notes to Know: Became Indiana’s first-ever Heisman Trophy winner and the first in the Big Ten since 2006 (Troy Smith, Ohio State) ... Is the second Hoosier to earn the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award, joining running back Anthony Thompson (1989) ...First IU quarterback to earn the Davey O’Brien Award ... Third Big Ten quarterback since 2000 with three-straight games of at least four passing touchdowns and zero interceptions - C.J. Stroud (Ohio State; 2021) and Kyle Orton (Purdue; 2004, four straight) ... Only FBS quarterback since at least 1996 with multiple games of at least 90 percent completion and four touchdown passes versus Power 4 opponents ... Only FBS quarterback with six games of 4-plus touchdown passes and zero interceptions ... Leads the FBS in highest percentage of passes that result in a touchdown at 11.6%, over two points higher than the next closest passer (Julian Sayin, Ohio State; 8.7%).
Awards: Bowl: Named Peach Bowl Offensive MVP. Season: Winner of the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp National Player of the Year awards ... Earned the Davey O’Brien Award ... Named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 5 ... Finalist for the Manning Award ... Named first-team All-America from the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of American and Walter Camp Football Foundation ... Tabbed second-team All-America by The Sporting News ... Also earned All-America accolades from The Athletic (1st), Pro Football Focus (1st), Sports Illustrated (1st), CBS Sports (2nd) and On3 (2nd) ... Earned Grange-Griffin Big Ten Championship Game MVP ... Named the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year and Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year ... Selected first-team All-Big Ten by the conference media and coaches panels. Weekly: Tabbed Named the Maxwell Award National Player of the Week, AP National Player of the Week, Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week and Big Ten Co-Player of the Week after a Week 4 victory over Illinois (9/20) ... Added East-West Shrine Bowl Monday Morning Quarterback, Senior Bowl Stock Up Player of the Week and Manning Awards Stars of the Week honors following Week 4 ... Earned Davey O’Brien Award Great 8 following Week 7 ... Honored with Big Ten’s Co-Offensive Player of the Week after Week 12 against Wisconsin (11/15) ... Selected to Davey O’Brien Great 8 and Manning Award Starts of the Week honor rolls after Week 12 against the Badgers.
Old Dominion (8/30): Made Indiana debut and produced 226 yards of total offense ... Completed 18-of-31 passes for 193 yards passing ... Rushed six times for 33 yards and one touchdown ... Scored IU’s first offensive touchdown with a 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Kennesaw State (9/6): Completed 18-of-25 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns ... Rushed three times for 20 yards ... First touchdown pass as a Hoosier came to Elijah Sarratt from 9 yards out in the first quarter ... Also found Sarratt on touchdown passes of 3 and 20 yards ... Fourth touchdown pass went to E.J. Williams Jr. in the fourth quarter ... Combined with brother, Fernando, against Kennesaw State to become the first set of brothers to throw touchdown passes for the same team in the same FBS game since Brady and Austin Allen of Arkansas in 2015 versus UT Martin. Indiana State (9/12): Completed first 14 passes of the game on the way to IU’s single-game completion percentage mark (.950) on 19-of-20 passing ... Threw for 270 yards and five touchdowns ... Rushed six times for 19 yards and one touchdown ... Opened the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run ... Touchdown passes covered 13, 13, 18, 4 and 31 yards - all in the first half ... Six touchdowns accounted for tied the program record with four other Hoosiers. Illinois (9/20): Connected on 21-of-23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns ... 16 of his 21 completions went for a first down or touchdown ... Completed his final 15 passes of the game ... His .910 completion percentage ranks No. 3 on the IU single-game completion percentage charts ... Rushed seven times for 4 yards (two sacks went for minus-14 yards) ... Hit Omar Cooper Jr. for an 11-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter ... Found three different receivers for touchdown passes in the second quarter: E.J. Williams Jr. (11 yards), Riley Nowakowski (43 yards), Elijah Sarratt (9 yards) ... Tossed a 5-yard scoring pass to Sarratt in the third quarter. at Iowa (9/27): Threw for 233 yards on 13-of-23 passing with two touchdowns ... Gained 26 yards on eight rushing attempts (two sacks) ... Connected with Omar Cooper Jr. a 14-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to open the scoring ... Found Elijah Sarratt on a zero blitz in the fourth quarter for the 49-yard go-ahead touchdown with under 2:00 in the game. at Oregon (10/11): Threw for 215 yards on 20-of-31 passing and one touchdown pass ... Rushed six times for 31 yards ... Following a pick 6 by Oregon, orchestrated a 75-yard touchdown drive that gave IU a 27-20 lead and was the eventual game-winning score. Michigan State (10/18): Completed 24-of-28 passes for 332 yards and four touchdowns ... Did not throw an interception ... Rushed for 18 yards on five carries ... Tossed two scoring strikes in each half ... Connected with E.J. Williams Jr. (13 yards) and Elijah Sarratt (24 yards) for touchdowns in the first half ... Hit Omar Cooper Jr. on a 48-yard touchdown in the third quarter ... Final scoring pass went 27 yards to Sarratt in the third quarter. UCLA (10/25): Totaled 213 yards of total offense ... Passed for 168 yards on 15-of-22 passing with three touchdowns and one interception ... Gained 45 yards rushing on five carries with one touchdown ... Connected with Elijah Sarratt (13 yards) and E.J. Williams Jr. (2 yards) on second-quarter touchdown passes ... Scrambled for a 20-yard touchdown run to open the third quarter ... Hit Williams Jr. on a 62-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. at Maryland (11/1): Logged 225 yards of total offense with two touchdowns accounted for ... Completed 14-of-21 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown ... Gained 24 yards on four carries with one touchdown ... Ran for a 7-yard touchdown in the first quarter to get IU on the scoreboard ... Connected with Omar Cooper Jr. on a second-quarter touchdown pass of 22 yards. at Penn State (11/8): Orchestrated Indiana’s first game-winning touchdown drive with 2:00 or less remaining in regulation since 1998 with a 5-for-8 passing effort and 87 yards that culminated in a 7-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to Omar Cooper Jr. ... Threw for 218 yards in the game on 19-of-30 passing with one touchdown and one interception ... Rushed for 20 yards on six carries and one touchdown ... Opened the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown rush in the first quarter. Wisconsin (11/15): Completed 22-of-24 passes for a .917 completion percentage - which is No. 3 on the IU single-game charts ... Connected on four touchdown passes to set the single-season Indiana record at 30 touchdown passes ... Hit Charlie Becker on a 31-yard scoring pass in the first quarter ... Found Holden Staes for a 2-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter ... Connected with Riley Nowakowski on a 21-yard score in the third quarter ... Hit Omar Cooper Jr. on a 5-yard touchdown strike in the fourth quarter to set the IU single-season passing touchdowns mark. at Purdue (11/28): Accounted for three touchdowns with two passing and one rushing - his fifth game with a rushing and passing score on the season ... Threw for 117 yards on 8-of-15 passing in the coldest game in Ross-Ade Stadium history (24 degrees) ... Ran twice for 27 yards and was not sacked ... Ran for a 7-yard touchdown in the first quarter ... Hit Elijah Sarratt on a 17-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter ... Connected with Omar Cooper Jr. on a 43-yard touchdown in the third quarter. vs. Ohio State (12/6): Completed 15-of-23 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown ... Hit Elijah Sarratt for a 17-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to give Indiana the lead for good. vs. Alabama (1/1): Completed a Rose Bowl Game-record 87.5% of his passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns ... Connected with three different receivers for touchdowns: Charlie Becker (2Q; 21 yards), Omar Cooper Jr. (2Q; 1 yard) and Elijah Sarratt (3Q; 24 yards) ... Gained 16 yards on eight carries. vs. Oregon (1/9): Completed 17-of-20 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns ... Gained 28 yards on six rushing attempts ... First scoring strike went for 1 yard to Omar Cooper Jr. in the first quarter ... Found Charlie Becker (36 yards) and Elijah Sarratt (2 yards) on second-quarter scoring passes ... Connected with E.J. Williams Jr. on a 13-yard touchdown in the third quarter ... Capped his day with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Sarratt in the fourth quarter.
2024 (Sophomore Season - California)
Awards: Three-time ACC Quarterback of the Week.
Season: Started the first 11 games of the season ... Missed the final regular season game of the season versus SMU (11/30) due to illness ... Entered the transfer portal prior to the LA Bowl ... Produced just the ninth 3,000-yard passing season in California history (3,004 yards) ... Finished top-10 on Cal's single-season passing charts in total offense yards (No. 7; 3,109 yards), passing efficiency (No. 8; 144.59) and yards passing (No. 9; 3,004 yards).
UC Davis (8/31): Completed 15-of-22 passes for 158 yards and one touchdown ... Rushed twice for 2 yards ... Tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to cap the scoring in the fourth quarter. at Auburn (9/7): Hit on 25-of-36 passes for 233 yards ... Added 12 yards rushing on five carries ... Both touchdown passes came in the first half ... Connected on scoring passes for 19 and 13 yards. San Diego State (9/14): Threw for 198 yards on 21-of-29 passing and two touchdowns ... Also scored one touchdown rushing ... Opened Cal’s scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run in the first quarter ... Threw a third-quarter touchdown pass of 20 yards ... Tossed a 15-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. at Florida State (9/21): Produced first-career 300-yard passing game ... Threw for 303 yards on 22-of-36 passing. Miami (Fla.) (10/5): Completed 11-of-22 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns ... Gained 20 yards on six carries ... Threw first-half touchdown passes of 57 yards and 66 yards. at Pittsburgh (10/12): Threw for 272 yards on 27-of-37 passing and one touchdown ... Completed fourth-quarter touchdown pass of 19 yards. NC State (10/19): Had 282 yards on 30-of-42 passing. Oregon State (10/26): Tossed two touchdown passes as part of a 27-of-36 afternoon and 346 yards passing and two touchdowns ... Marked second-career 300-yard passing game ... Gained 25 yards on five carries ... Accounted for the first two touchdowns of the game in the first quarter ... First touchdown of the game was a 15-yard touchdown pass that he threw and then ran in for the score on a lateral ... Also connected on a 20-yard touchdown pass. at Wake Forest (11/8): Posted third-career 300-yard passing game on 40-of-56 passing for 385 yards ... Threw two touchdown passes ... Scored one rushing touchdown with five carries for 51 yards ... Tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter ... Connected on a 2-yard scoring pass in the second quarter ... Rushed for a 5-yard score in the third quarter. Syracuse (11/16): Posted 225 yards passing on 22-of-34 passing with one touchdown ... Final score of the game was a 5-yard touchdown pass. Stanford (11/23): Threw for 299 yards on 25-of-36 passing and three touchdowns ... Carried 11 times for 35 yards ... Hit on a 16-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter ... Threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns: 30 and 22 yards.
2023 (Redshirt Freshman Season - California)
Awards: Honored with Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honorable mention by the conference coaches ... Fourth-team All-Pac-12 per Phil Steele ... Earned Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll ... Named Cal’s Jonathan and Judy Hoff Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Season: Appeared in nine games with eight starts ... Starts came in each of the final eight games of the season ... Made collegiate debut in season opener at North Texas (9/2) ... First collegiate start came versus Oregon State (10/7).
at North Texas (9/2): Made collegiate debut ... Attempted one pass. Oregon State (10/7): First collegiate start featured 207 yards passing and two touchdowns ... Completed 21-of-32 passes ... Rushed four times for 41 yards ... First collegiate touchdown pass covered 9 yards in the second quarter ... Connected on a 30-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. at Utah (10/14): Completed 10-of-17 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns ... Added seven carries for 12 yards ... Tossed a 48-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter ... Added a 24-yard scoring strike in the third quarter. USC (10/28): Posted 340 yards of total offense and accounted for four total touchdowns ... Scored first collegiate rushing touchdown ... Completed 25-of-39 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns ... Rushed for 48 yards on eight carries with two scores ... Touchdown passes covered 17 and 13 yards ... Rushed for a 2-yard score in the second quarter and a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter. at Oregon (11/4): Threw for 177 yards on 18-of-34 passing. Washington State (11/11): Completed 14-of-21 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns ... Added seven carries for 5 yards ... Threw a 6-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter ... Added a 13-yard scoring pass in the second quarter. at Stanford (11/18): Threw three touchdown passes as part of a 294-yard passing effort ... Completed 24-of-36 passes ... Connected on touchdown passes of 9, 54 and 8 yards. at UCLA (11/25): Threw for 178 yards on 19-of-30 passing with two touchdowns ... Hit on touchdown passes for 14 and 13 yards in the game. vs. Texas Tech (12/16): Completed 22-of-33 passes for 261 yards and one touchdown ... Carried 11 times for 12 yards ... Opened the scoring with a 25-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
2022 (Freshman Season - California)
Season: Did not appear in a game and redshirted initial collegiate season.
Prep/Personal
Quarterback for head coach Dave Dunn at Christopher Columbus High School ... Spent freshman season at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School ... Rated a three-star prospect per ESPN, 247Sports and On3 ... Tabbed the No. 72 quarterback nationally per ESPN ... Selected team captain as a junior and senior ... Tabbed first-team All-Dade Count as a junior ... Career totals included 224-of-332 (.675) passing for 2,222 yards and 29 touchdowns ... Completed 107-of-169 passes (.633) for 1,109 yards with 11 touchdowns as a 2021 senior ... Helped CCHS reach as high the nation’s No. 14 team before opting out of the FHSAA postseason due to COVID-19 ... Threw for 1,086 yards on 91-of-129 passing and 13 touchdowns ... Sophomore campaign featured an FHSAA 8A state title as the backup quarterback ... Completed 26-of-34 passes (.765) for 227 yards with five touchdowns ... Participated in the Elite 11 Regional and UnderArmour All-American Camp Regional ... Named MVP of the Rivals Miami Wilson Connected camp ... Also lettered in tennis ... Campus ministry president, school vice president, social media director for the honors program while at CCHS ... Nominee for the Silver Knight Award given to a select group of students who have an outstanding academic history and an impressive community service record ... Son of Elsa and Fernando Mendoza ... Brother, Alberto, is a redshirt freshman quarterback at Indiana ... Born October 1, 2003 ... Coordinated the Christopher Columbus High School Turkey Drive in which 436 turkeys were given to families in need in Miami-Dade County ... Founding member of They Can Too, a global organization dedicated to helping and spreading awareness for youth in need ... Organized a Cuban Relief Service trip in which he and his grandfather, Alberto Espino, went to Cuba to give to back to their native community, locals and family members ... One of three hosts of the 2024 Golden Buddies Football Clinic for youth with and without disabilities while at Cal.
FB: Curt Cignetti Media Availability (1/17/26)
Saturday, January 17
FB: Curt Cignetti Media Availability (1/16/26)
Friday, January 16
FB: CFP National Championship Game - Student-Athlete Press Conference
Tuesday, January 13
FB: Curt Cignetti Media Availability (1/12/26)
Monday, January 12
