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Even though Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers were knocked out of the College Football Playoff in the first round by Notre Dame, the 2024 season was nothing short of historic. The Hoosiers achieved their first-ever 11-win campaign, powered by a massive transfer portal overhaul orchestrated by Cignetti in his debut season.
Cignetti brought in 31 transfers, including 14 from his former program at James Madison. Among the newcomers, sixth-year senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke stood out as a game-changer, leading Indiana to unprecedented heights. With Rourke now out of eligibility, Cignetti wasted no time finding his successor, landing one of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal, Cal's Fernando Mendoza, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Mendoza, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound redshirt sophomore, was one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in the portal. Ranked as the No. 3 quarterback in ESPN's transfer rankings, he chose Indiana over other suitors, including Georgia and Missouri. The Miami native will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
This past season, Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards, 18 total touchdowns, and six interceptions over 11 games, leading Cal to six wins and a bowl game in its inaugural season as an ACC member. Among Power 4 quarterbacks, he ranked in the top 10 in yards per game (273.1) and completion percentage (69%), despite enduring 41 sacks—the most in the FBS.
Mendoza really made a name for himself with his standout performance against Auburn, where he threw for 233 yards and two-touchdowns effort in a 21-14 road win.
A key factor in Mendoza’s decision to transfer to Indiana was his connection to the program—his younger brother, Alberto Mendoza, is a freshman backup quarterback for the Hoosiers. This family link helped tip the scales in Indiana’s favor as Mendoza explored his options, according to Max Olson.
With nine new transfer commits, Cignetti and Indiana look poised to lean on the portal once again to build on its best season in school history.
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