The Indiana Hoosiers are locked in on their national championship aspirations this season, but there’s another storyline quietly brewing in Bloomington - and it could shape the future of the program in a big way.
With quarterback Fernando Mendoza potentially heading to the NFL Draft after this season, Indiana may be in the market for a new leader under center. And one name is already starting to surface: Josh Hoover, the TCU Horned Frogs quarterback who just entered the transfer portal.
According to reports, Indiana is one of the early programs to watch in the Hoover sweepstakes. That’s not just smoke - Hoover himself confirmed Thursday that he’s moving on from TCU, releasing a heartfelt statement thanking the university for four years of growth, both on and off the field.
Hoover isn’t just another name in the portal. He’s a proven playmaker with real production to back it up.
The junior quarterback tossed 29 touchdown passes this season and has 71 total in his college career - numbers that speak to both his consistency and his ability to stretch the field. He’s battle-tested in the Big 12 and brings a level of experience that few transfer quarterbacks can match.
If Indiana does land Hoover, it would be a significant pickup for head coach Curt Cignetti as he looks to build on this year’s momentum. Cignetti has already brought a no-nonsense, winning mentality to the program, and adding a quarterback like Hoover could help sustain that success well beyond this season.
In the short term, Hoover’s decision also impacts the Alamo Bowl, where TCU will face USC on December 30. With Hoover out, TCU is expected to turn to backup Ken Seals to lead the offense. That shift could change the dynamic of the game, but for Indiana fans, the bigger story is what happens after the final whistle.
If Mendoza does declare and Hoover ends up in Bloomington, the Hoosiers would be reloading, not rebuilding - and that’s a big distinction in today’s college football landscape. A veteran quarterback with Hoover’s arm talent and leadership could keep Indiana in the thick of the Big Ten race and the national conversation.
We’ll see how it plays out in the coming weeks, but keep an eye on this one. Indiana’s future might just be taking shape - and it could be wearing purple and white for the last time this month.