Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) embraces his family on the field Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, after defeating the Miami (FL) Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
(Grace Hollars, IndyStar via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) reacts after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) lifts the trophy after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti holds up the trophy as the team celebrates winning the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) is interviewed by ESPN personality Rece Davis after winning the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Lincoln Murff (45) celebrates on the field Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, after defeating the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar, IndyStar via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti reacts after the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti celebrates on the field Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, after defeating the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
(Grace Hollars, IndyStar via USA TODAY NETWORK)
A national champions flag is is seen after the College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Devan Boykin (12), wide receiver Elijah Sarratt (13) and linebacker PJ Nelson (30) celebrate after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)
The Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images)
The Indiana Hoosiers reacts against the Miami Hurricanes in the second half during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Ryland Gandy (10) reacts after the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
The Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images)
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) celebrates with wide receiver Charlie Becker (80) after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half of the CFP National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Grace Hollars, Imagn Images)
The Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images)
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Jamari Sharpe (22) celebrates with defensive back Louis Moore (7) after making an interception against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half of the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Jamari Sharpe (22) reacts after getting an interception against the Miami Hurricanes in the second half during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
1/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) embraces his family on the field Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, after defeating the Miami (FL) Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
(Grace Hollars, IndyStar via USA TODAY NETWORK)
1/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) embraces his family on the field Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, after defeating the Miami (FL) Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
(Grace Hollars, IndyStar via USA TODAY NETWORK)
2/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) reacts after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
3/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) lifts the trophy after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
4/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti holds up the trophy as the team celebrates winning the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
5/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) is interviewed by ESPN personality Rece Davis after winning the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
6/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Lincoln Murff (45) celebrates on the field Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, after defeating the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar, IndyStar via USA TODAY NETWORK)
7/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti reacts after the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
8/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti celebrates on the field Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, after defeating the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
(Grace Hollars, IndyStar via USA TODAY NETWORK)
9/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
A national champions flag is is seen after the College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)
10/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Devan Boykin (12), wide receiver Elijah Sarratt (13) and linebacker PJ Nelson (30) celebrate after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)
11/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
The Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images)
12/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
The Indiana Hoosiers reacts against the Miami Hurricanes in the second half during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
13/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Ryland Gandy (10) reacts after the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
14/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
The Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images)
15/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) celebrates with wide receiver Charlie Becker (80) after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half of the CFP National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Grace Hollars, Imagn Images)
16/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
The Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images)
17/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Jamari Sharpe (22) celebrates with defensive back Louis Moore (7) after making an interception against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half of the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
18/18
Indiana Hoosiers claim first national football title over Miami
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Jamari Sharpe (22) reacts after getting an interception against the Miami Hurricanes in the second half during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
Mendoza is the younger brother of Hoosiers starting quarterbackFernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and the presumed No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
As a redshirt freshman this season, Alberto Mendoza appeared in nine games, often relieving his older brother late in lopsided wins. Across those games, he completed 18 of 24 passes for 286 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He was a threat on the ground, too, rushing for 190 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts.
Mendoza's decision comes about two weeks after Indianalanded a commitment from TCU transfer quarterback Josh Hoover, one of the most sought-after players in the portal. Hoover set a school record with 3,949 passing yards in 2024 and followed that up with 3,472 yards and 29 touchdowns this past season.
Should he win the job, as is widely expected, Hoover would become the third transfer quarterback to start for Indiana since coach Curt Cignetti was hired after the 2023 season, joiningKurtis Rourkeand Fernando Mendoza.
Alberto Mendoza was a three-star recruit in the 2024 class coming out of Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. He was rated by247Sports' composite rankingsas the No. 84 quarterback in the class. After enrolling at Indiana in June 2024, he was joined by his older brother, who transferred in from Cal after the 2024 season and went on to become the Hoosiers' first Heisman winner in program history.
