This season, a large reason behind the Hoosiers' undefeated 9-0 start and No. 2 rankingin the US LBM Coaches Pollhas been the stellar play of Cal transfer quarterbackFernando Mendoza.
Mendoza'sHeisman Trophy-caliber seasonhas helpedIndianacontinue what is arguably the best run in program history. It is the first time Indiana has won eight games in back-to-back seasons since the Hoosiers went 16-7-1 in 1987-88.
Through the first 10 weeks of the season, the 6-foot-5 quarterback has guided the Indiana offense to the No. 1 scoring offense (46.4 points per game) in the country while ranking individually in the top five of several passing categories among FBS quarterbacks, including touchdowns (25) and completion percentage (72.3%).
But Mendoza isn't the only Hoosiers quarterback with that name who is helping lead Indiana. Here's what to know:
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks on before the Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rose Bowl Stadium on Jan. 1, 2026.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Head coach Curt Cignetti Indiana in the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sept. 27, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Matthew Holst, Getty Images)
Head Coach Curt Cignetti during the Indiana versus Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025
(Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times)
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti watches the second half of a game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in South Bend. Notre Dame defeated Indiana 27-17.
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar)
Indiana University Curt Cignetti during fall practice at the Mellencamp Pavilion at Indiana University on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
(Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times)
Oct 19, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks up at the scoreboard during the fourth quarter of a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium.
(Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images)
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti watches his team against Ohio State Buckeyes during the second quarter of the football game in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.
(Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch)
Head Coach Curt Cignetti at Indiana University football practice on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
(Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times)
Head Coach Curt Cignetti at Indiana University football practice on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025.
(Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times)
Head Coach Curt Cignetti during the Indiana versus Kennesaw State Big Ten football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.
(Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times)
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti walks along the sideline during the second half against the Indiana State Sycamores at Memorial Stadium on Sep 12, 2025.
(Robert Goddin, Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)
Sep 20, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti watches his team prior to the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium
(Robert Goddin, Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)
Sep 20, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti watches his team during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium.
(Robert Goddin, Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)
Head coach Curt Cignetti of the Indiana Hoosiers looks on against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Martin Stadium on October 05, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
Head coach Curt Cignetti of the Indiana Hoosiers looks on prior to the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Martin Stadium on October 05, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks on before the Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rose Bowl Stadium on Jan. 1, 2026.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks on before the Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rose Bowl Stadium on Jan. 1, 2026.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Head coach Curt Cignetti Indiana in the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sept. 27, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Matthew Holst, Getty Images)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Head Coach Curt Cignetti during the Indiana versus Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025
(Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti watches the second half of a game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in South Bend. Notre Dame defeated Indiana 27-17.
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Indiana University Curt Cignetti during fall practice at the Mellencamp Pavilion at Indiana University on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
(Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Oct 19, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks up at the scoreboard during the fourth quarter of a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium.
(Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti watches his team against Ohio State Buckeyes during the second quarter of the football game in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.
(Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Head Coach Curt Cignetti at Indiana University football practice on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
(Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Head Coach Curt Cignetti at Indiana University football practice on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025.
(Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Head Coach Curt Cignetti during the Indiana versus Kennesaw State Big Ten football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.
(Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti walks along the sideline during the second half against the Indiana State Sycamores at Memorial Stadium on Sep 12, 2025.
(Robert Goddin, Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Sep 20, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti watches his team prior to the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium
(Robert Goddin, Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Sep 20, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti watches his team during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium.
(Robert Goddin, Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Head coach Curt Cignetti of the Indiana Hoosiers looks on against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Martin Stadium on October 05, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Curt Cignetti face: See Indiana coach react during Indiana football games
Head coach Curt Cignetti of the Indiana Hoosiers looks on prior to the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Martin Stadium on October 05, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
Are Fernando Mendoza and Alberto Mendoza related?
Yes, Fernando Mendoza is the older brother of Alberto Mendoza, the latter of whom is a redshirt freshman on the Hoosiers' roster.
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The two brothers hail from Miami, where they played high school football for Christopher Columbus High School.
As noted by the Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network, the possibility for Fernando Mendoza to play with his younger brother was a contributing factor when he chose the Hoosiers from the transfer portal this offseason. Alberto Mendoza redshirted in 2024 after he initially committed to play for Cignetti at James Madison.
"I think having my little brother there, who's my best friend and the person who pushes me the hardest, it was great to have that, to see his perspective on the coaching staff, the culture," Fernando Mendoza told the IndyStar in January following his transfer.
In Indiana's 56-9 win over Kennesaw State on Saturday, Sept. 6, the Mendoza brothers became thefirst set of brothers to throw a touchdownin the same game for the same team since Brandon Allen and Austin Allen at Arkansas, in 2015, against UT-Martin. Alberto Mendoza threw his first career touchdown pass with the Hoosiers after his brother threw four.
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"It was fantastic,"Fernando Mendoza said. "I want to give all the glory to God on that. That was amazing to be here with him and have that partnership that we're working together, trying to push each other to get better and get the Hoosiers as many wins as possible."
Since that moment, the two have thrown at least one touchdown in two additional games, against Indiana State and Maryland. Alberto Mendoza finished with a rushing touchdown vs. UCLA, but did not throw a touchdown pass in the win.
Fernando Mendoza stats
Here's a look at Fernando Mendoza's stats this season at Indiana:
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Passing:162 of 224 passing (72.3%) for 2,124 yards with 25 touchdowns and four interceptions
Rushing:50 carries for 220 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns
Alberto Mendoza stats
Here's a look at Alberto Mendoza's stats this season at Indiana:
Passing:15 of 21 passing (71.4%) for 204 yards with four touchdowns and an interception
Rushing:Eight carries for 123 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown
