The 2025 college football season delivered a fairytale ending that fans will talk about for generations. Indiana, once the perennial underdog, emerged as the first team to go 16-0 since the 1894 Yale Bulldogs, clinching the College Football Playoff National Championship with a victory over Miami.
At the heart of this remarkable journey was quarterback Fernando Mendoza. In his sole season with the Hoosiers, Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns, earning the Heisman Trophy and setting his sights on the 2026 NFL Draft as a top prospect.
Mendoza's path to Indiana was far from straightforward. After a solid season at Cal, where he threw for 3,004 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions with a 68.7% completion rate, he entered the transfer portal in December 2024.
His decision came down to a nail-biting choice between Indiana and Georgia. Speaking on Sportsradio 96.7 & 1310 The Ticket, Mendoza recounted how close he came to joining the Bulldogs.
"There were a couple of schools I was really considering," Mendoza shared. "It really came down to Indiana and Georgia.
Kirby's a fantastic recruiter and coach. They were so close to making a national championship."
Mendoza first visited Indiana, where his brother Alberto was a freshman quarterback. He also checked out Missouri and Georgia, but Missouri had already picked up former Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula. Mendoza described the decision-making process as challenging.
"It was tough. I had to trust my gut and God," he said.
"At one point, I was about to commit to Georgia, but the call didn’t go through. I decided to sleep on it, and that’s when I felt guided to Indiana.
Coach Cignetti’s words stuck with me: 'We don’t know what the success will be, but you’ll become the best quarterback you can here.'"
The next day, Mendoza committed to Indiana, setting the stage for an unforgettable season. Meanwhile, Georgia started the 2025 season with Gunner Stockton, who had 18 fewer starts than Mendoza. Stockton had a strong season, completing 69.7% of his passes for 2,894 yards and 24 touchdowns, along with 462 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Mendoza’s journey is a testament to trusting one's instincts and the power of unexpected opportunities. His story will undoubtedly inspire future athletes facing tough decisions in their careers.