The No. 2-ranked Indiana Hoosiers are steamrolling everybody, and their quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, is an integral reason for that sweeping success.
Mendoza is having a spectacular debut season in Bloomington. Through Indiana’s first seven games, the redshirt junior has totaled 1,755 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, two interceptions and a 191.0 passer rating (first in the nation among qualified passers), while completing 73.5% of his passes (third in the nation). His touchdown total and passer rating are first in the Big Ten. Mendoza has also rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
On Week 9’s edition of “Big Noon Kickoff,” Mendoza told Tom Rinaldi why he transferred to Indiana.
“My main goal was to become the best Fernando Mendoza quarterback that I could become, and seeing [my brother] Alberto [Mendoza] progress a lot in a single 12 months, I used to be like, ‘this man made a bounce in a single 12 months that it took me perhaps two and even three years to make,'” Mendoza stated. “I wish to see what’s part of the Indiana program, so after I got here right here I used to be capable of discuss to Coach Cignetti and I noticed the way in which that they dealt with the offense, the system and simply their monitor document of growing quarterbacks.”
Fernando Mendoza spent the primary two seasons of his collegiate profession with the California Golden Bears, with whom he threw for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns and accomplished 68.7% of his passes in 2024.
Mendoza’s dedication to Indiana this offseason was largely considered as one of many high switch additions within the sport, however his play has been even higher than anticipated.
Amongst Indiana’s greatest wins this season are a 30-20 victory over now-No. 6 Oregon in Eugene, and a 63-10 rout of now-No. 23 Illinois in Bloomington. The Hoosiers sit at 7–0 heading right into a Large Ten showdown with UCLA on Saturday.
A giant cause for Indiana’s rise has been the management of Cignetti, whose impression has rapidly reshaped this system’s tradition and confidence.
“[People] see the quotes about Coach Cig when he says, “Google me’ or any of the opposite quotes that find yourself going viral on the web. Nonetheless, I believe he is very, very calculated and process-driven in how he handles his gamers,” Mendoza stated about Cignetti. “Within the Oregon recreation, after I threw a pick-six, he stated ‘are you having enjoyable?’ And I believe that is a very nice technique to preserve your quarterback within the current second and grounded as a result of he is aware of I would like my quarterback to be calm and composed so we are able to be capable of win this recreation.”
Towards the backdrop of Mendoza’s success has been his mom’s battle with a number of sclerosis.
“She battles it each single day, and he or she is my gentle and inspiration as a result of it doesn’t matter what, regardless of how arduous it will get, she all the time maintains this unwavering positivity and affect in our lives,” Mendoza stated of his mom. “She’s my instance of all the time having that positivity and all the time having the optimistic method. If I’ve a nasty recreation or a nasty follow, I am not going to go on the market and pout as a result of I see how arduous she’s preventing and the way arduous she all the time maintains the optimistic method.”
When Mendoza arrived in Bloomington, he made a vow to do one thing good for the group and for his mother’s trigger. Fernando and Alberto partnered with an area Bloomington restaurant, BuffaLouie’s at The Gables, and made a burger on the menu to assist elevate consciousness for a number of sclerosis.
“It offers consciousness, and we’re actually happy with it,” Fernando Mendoza stated. “She’s invested a lot time and love into us, and it is solely proper that I will give again to her and my household sooner or later.”
Indiana hosts the UCLA Bruins in Week 9 (midday ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app).
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