Fernando Mendoza's brother leaks plans for Indiana after national championship

As Indiana prepares for Monday night against the Miami Hurricanes, history and opportunity meet under the lights.

The Indiana Hoosiers arrive carrying the weight of a season that reshaped the program and altered how the country views football in Bloomington.

Alberto Mendoza has spent the season with a front-row seat to the rise of his older brother, Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner.

“I mean, obviously there’s going to be growing pains no matter where you go,” Alberto Mendoza said, speaking about Fernando and his improvement year over year. “But I don’t think there was ever really a struggle. He was just improving. He cleaned up some things and took big jumps in the spring, the summer, and fall camp. He made huge strides that really propelled him to achieve everything that he’s achieved. So I wouldn’t say there were struggles, but there were definitely growing pains. That’s for anybody.”

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Much of that growth came through learning to trust the pocket.

“That really came from his time at Cal,” Mendoza said. “He was one of the most sacked quarterbacks there, so that came with a little bit of trauma from getting hit so quickly. Settling in the pocket became a big emphasis, and he really improved on that as the season went on. You can see it.”

Preparation, Mendoza said, is what allows him to stay ready if his number is ever called.

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“That’s why I just prepare every week,” he said. “We prepare together every single day. Just being side by side with him step by step gives me full confidence that I can go out there, whether it’s the Big Ten Championship, the Rose Bowl, the Peach Bowl, any single game, the National Championship, I have full confidence that I can go out there and do it.”

Indiana’s future at quarterback will include competition. The Hoosiers added former Josh Hoover, widely viewed as the early favorite entering 2026. Mendoza, however, is not approaching the offseason willing to concede anything.

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“Yeah, I think I’m prepared to take over the reins [for the] Indiana Hoosiers and I’ve taken strides,” he said. “If you ask my brother, he’ll tell you that I’m ready to go and ready to get after it. So I think I’m ready to go and I’m excited for next year. It’s going to be a great year. Another year with the Hoosiers.”

Indiana is chasing a title Monday night. The first in school history and Alberto Mendoza is preparing for what comes next.

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