From Berkeley to the Heisman: Fernando Mendoza’s Journey Wasn’t Linear, But It Was Legendary
Fernando Mendoza’s college football story didn’t start with a five-star rating or a national spotlight. It began with a late scholarship offer from Cal, flipping his commitment from Yale in the eleventh hour. That twist of fate launched a journey that reached its peak under the bright lights of Lincoln Center, where Mendoza stood as the winner of college football’s most prestigious individual honor: the Heisman Trophy.
But before the confetti and the trophy, there was a grind. And it didn’t always go according to plan.
A Rocky Road in Berkeley
Mendoza’s time at Cal came during a turbulent stretch for the program. The Bears were nearing the end of the Justin Wilcox era, a period marked by constant turnover on the offensive side of the ball. In Mendoza’s three years in Berkeley, Cal cycled through three offensive coordinators-and would’ve had a fourth had Mendoza stuck around for another season.
He wasn’t handed the starting job. Jake Spavital, then the offensive coordinator, experimented with Sam Jackson V and Ben Finley before eventually turning to Mendoza. Once he got the nod, Mendoza didn’t look back.
He took some early hits, both literally and figuratively, but helped steer the Bears to three straight wins and a bowl game appearance in 2023. It looked like Cal had finally found its guy.
But 2024 was a different story. Injuries to star running back Jaydn Ott and ongoing struggles along the offensive line made it tough for Mendoza to find rhythm.
The offense sputtered, and the decision to rotate in Chandler Rogers only added to the confusion.
Still, there were flashes of brilliance. Mendoza led an upset win at Auburn, engineered a memorable 98-yard drive against Stanford, and delivered three electric quarters in Miami that had fans dreaming big. But the inconsistency around him was hard to overcome, and eventually, Mendoza started thinking about what might be possible elsewhere.
A Fresh Start-and a Dream Realized-in Bloomington
Mendoza transferred to Indiana, joining a program fresh off a playoff run and reuniting with his brother, who was also a quarterback there. It turned out to be the move he needed.
In Bloomington, Mendoza finally found the offensive structure and coaching stability that had eluded him at Cal. The results?
Nothing short of spectacular. He led the Hoosiers to a conference title, helped them rise to the No. 1 ranking in the country, earned a trip to the Rose Bowl, and capped it all off by hoisting the Heisman.
He didn’t forget where it all started. In his Heisman acceptance speech, Mendoza took a moment to thank the Cal community:
“To my Cal family, thank you for being the first to believe in my future. Thank you for the opportunity, educating me, and giving me the foundation that enabled me to grow into the person I am today.”
That wasn’t just lip service. Mendoza had deep ties to Berkeley.
He earned his degree from UC Berkeley in the spring, finishing his Haas Business program while juggling football and, at times, commuting between Indiana and California. He stayed connected to the community, even launching the “Mendoza Burrito” at La Burrita to raise funds for his mother’s fight with multiple sclerosis.
A Leader Who Left His Mark
Mendoza always led with heart. Whether it was in his postgame interviews, his Big Game speeches, or his final moments in a Cal uniform, he consistently put the spotlight on his teammates and his community. He may have finished his football story in crimson and cream, but he carried the spirit of the Golden Bears with him every step of the way.
And while it stings for Cal fans to see him celebrating in another jersey, Mendoza’s success did force a necessary reckoning in Berkeley. His departure-and the way he thrived immediately after-highlighted how badly Cal needed a change in direction. The Wilcox era had kept the program afloat, but it wasn’t maximizing the talent it had.
Mendoza was proof. Here was a quarterback who had everything you could want-leadership, toughness, football IQ-and he had to leave to reach his potential.
A New Chapter for Cal Football
But with every ending comes a beginning. Mendoza’s exit opened the door for Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to return to Berkeley from Oregon and immediately take over as the Bears’ starting quarterback in 2025. Sagapolutele isn’t just a promising player-he’s one of the most dynamic quarterback talents in the country heading into 2026.
New head coach Tosh Lupoi wasted no time making his presence felt. From Day 1, he emphasized the importance of talent identification and retention.
He flew to Hawaii to bring Sagapolutele back into the fold and retained Nick Rolovich to maintain offensive continuity. The message was clear: Cal is serious about building a program where quarterbacks like Mendoza and Sagapolutele can thrive without needing to look elsewhere.
In this new era of NIL and transfer portals, keeping your stars happy and supported is more important than ever. Mendoza’s journey is a reminder of what’s possible when that support system is in place-and what can be lost when it isn’t.
Full Circle
Fernando Mendoza’s football dream came true because of the opportunity Cal gave him. He made the most of that foundation, even if his path to glory took him far from Berkeley. His story is one of perseverance, growth, and belief-in himself and in the people who believed in him first.
Now, it’s Cal’s turn to build something lasting. Mendoza showed what’s possible. The Bears just have to make sure the next one doesn’t get away.