The Indiana Hoosiers enter the 2026 season because the defending nationwide champions, and of their quest to go back-to-back they’ll have a brand new quarterback room. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza will head off to the NFL because the presumptive No. 1 general decide in April’s draft. His youthful brother, Alberto, who served as his backup, rapidly entered the switch portal and has signed with Georgia Tech, sources instructed CBS Sports activities’ Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer on Tuesday.
The youthful Mendoza appeared in 9 video games for the Hoosiers, as they commonly discovered themselves comfortably in entrance late in video games the place they might pull the starters. In these appearances, Alberto Mendoza accomplished 18 of his 24 go makes an attempt for 286 yards, 5 touchdowns and one interception.
The Yellow Jackets characterize a wonderful match for the youthful Mendoza after starter Haynes King graduated and Aaron Philo transferred to Florida. Philo adopted offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to Gainesville, leaving Georgia Tech with a transparent want at quarterback. Mendoza can fill that void and be a part of a Yellow Jackets roster that is added a prime working again in Michigan’s Justice Haynes and a prime receiver in Alabama’s Jaylen Mbakwe throughout this portal window.
Meet Josh Hoover, the TCU switch who will observe Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza as Indiana QB
Shehan Jeyarajah
On the Indiana aspect, the departure of Alberto Mendoza isn’t surprising contemplating the Hoosiers already stuffed their beginning quarterback spot for 2026 within the switch portal previous to the nationwide title recreation. The Hoosiers signed former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, who will probably be Curt Cignetti’s third straight starter acquired by way of the switch portal.
The primary two have labored out extremely effectively, with Kurtis Rourke serving to Indiana attain its first playoff look in 2024 after which Mendoza main the Hoosiers to their first-ever nationwide title in 2025. That ramps up the stress on Hoover to maintain Indiana as a nationwide title contender, however the Hoosiers definitely seem set to reload for one more run on the Playoff in Cignetti’s third season.
