Two years ago, Indiana football was little more than a footnote in the Big Ten - a program that had spent decades on the outside looking in. Eleven winning seasons in over 75 years.
That’s not just a cold streak; that’s a legacy of irrelevance. But today?
The Hoosiers are 16-0, national champions, and the new face of college football’s wild, wide-open future.
Curt Cignetti didn’t inherit a powerhouse. He built one. And he did it fast.
Indiana didn’t follow the traditional blueprint. There were no blue-chip pipelines, no decades-long traditions to lean on.
Instead, they went out and found hungry, experienced players from across the country - top performers from Group of Five programs, battle-tested veterans from the portal, and the right quarterback to pull it all together. What they built was a team that believed - and a team that delivered.
This is what the modern era of college football looks like. The transfer portal has changed everything.
The playing field is flatter than ever, and schools that invest wisely - in coaches, in facilities, in NIL - can turn things around in a hurry. Indiana saw the writing on the wall and leaned in.
And now, they’re at the top of the mountain.
And at the center of it all? Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza’s fourth-down touchdown pass - a laser that will live forever in Indiana lore - was the exclamation point on a season for the ages. He took hit after hit Monday night in Miami, got up every time, and delivered when it mattered most. That moment, that play, was everything you want in a championship quarterback: toughness, poise, and ice in his veins.
Heisman Trophy winner. National champion. Indiana legend.
But for Cal fans, Mendoza’s rise is bittersweet. Because before he was Indiana’s hero, he was Cal’s hope.
Mendoza’s time in Berkeley wasn’t just about stats or wins - it was about connection. He brought energy to a fanbase that desperately needed something to believe in.
His departure hurt, no question. But he left with his degree, and he’ll always be a Golden Bear in the hearts of those who watched him grow.
Now, Cal finds itself at a crossroads - but with new leadership and a new vision.
Tosh Lupoi has taken over the program with urgency and a clear plan. With only a week fully on the job (and juggling responsibilities during Oregon’s playoff run), Lupoi and his staff are already putting together one of the top transfer portal classes in the country. They’re not just filling holes - they’re raising the ceiling.
Cal’s offense is getting a much-needed facelift, with skill position upgrades across the board. The trenches are being rebuilt with athletic Power 4 transfers and productive mid-major veterans who bring real experience. It’s a roster that may be young in spots, but it’s got breakout potential written all over it - if the development is there.
And that’s the key word now: development. Indiana showed what’s possible when every coach is locked in, every player is maximized, and the whole program is pulling in the same direction.
Cal has the infrastructure. It has the degree.
It has the location. Now, it’s about execution.
The NIL era has opened new doors, too. Donors and fans are stepping up, helping Cal compete in ways that weren’t possible just a few years ago. With Ron Rivera and Rich Lyons providing leadership and vision, and Lupoi selling the vision to recruits and boosters alike, there’s a growing sense of momentum in Berkeley - and a realization that the time to act is now.
Because the margin for error is razor-thin. Cal was one vote away from being left out of the Power Conference picture.
In another timeline, they could’ve been left behind. But they weren’t.
And now, they’ve got a shot to write their own redemption story.
Indiana just proved it can be done. Cal has every reason to believe they can be next.
The future is uncertain - but for the Golden Bears, it’s finally starting to feel like one worth chasing.