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JUMP TO:
- Where is Fernando Mendoza from?
- Fernando Mendoza parents
- Where did Fernando Mendoza go to high school?
- Fernando Mendoza high school stats
- Did Fernando Mendoza play other sports?
- Fernando Mendoza recruiting offers
There aren’t many stories in college football better than Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers.
Mendoza, who transferred to Bloomington from California in the offseason, has been electric for Indiana on its way to the program’s first-ever 13-0 season and its first outright Big Ten title since 1945. The quarterback has emerged as one of the best players in the sport, leading the nation in passing touchdowns in his first year in Bloomington.
He was named the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner as well, representing the most outstanding player in college football for the season.
Here’s more about Mendoza's hometown, high school and where the Hoosiers’ superstar came from.
MORE: Where does Indiana’s Curt Cignetti rank among college football’s highest-paid coaches?
Where is Fernando Mendoza from?
Mendoza was born in Boston, Massachusetts, but he is a Miami native through and through.
While his family was living in Boston during his father's medical residency, they returned to Miami shortly after his birth, where Mendoza was raised in the heart of the '305.' He grew up just a mile from the University of Miami campus and attended Christopher Columbus High School, becoming a pillar of the local football community.
"It's gonna be a full circle moment." 🍿
Fernando Mendoza with @JenLada on playing for a national championship in his hometown of Miami, Florida 🌴 pic.twitter.com/cvophHU7xm
Growing up in Miami allowed Mendoza to really embrace his heritage through Cuban customs and traditions.
"All my grandparents were born and raised in Cuba, three in Havana, one in Santiago, and so I'm extremely grateful for all the hardship that they've been through coming over and the whole part of being an immigrant, starting from the ground up and really laying a foundation," Mendoza said in an interview with NBC Sports.
MORE: Curt Cignetti's best quotes at Indiana
Fernando Mendoza parents
Elsa Mendoza (Mother)
Elsa Mendoza is a central figure in Fernando’s life and a powerful inspiration for his charitable work. She is recognized for her courageous battle against Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a progressive autoimmune disease. The family often speaks about how her perseverance has shaped Fernando’s resilient mindset and work ethic.
Fernando Mendoza's mom lives with MS.
She's his best friend and inspiration for everything he does.
If you do anything today, take two minutes and listen to Fernando talk about his mom and how much she means to him. pic.twitter.com/tWHvC7QjxN
Elsa has been instrumental in the creation of Fernando's NIL merchandise line, as a portion of all proceeds is dedicated to the National MS Society. By publicly sharing her story, she has helped transform her son's athletic success into a significant platform for MS awareness and fundraising. She resides with the family in Miami.
She also wrote about her battle with the disease in a letter she penned to Fernando through The Players' Tribune.
I was diagnosed about 18 years ago, but of course you never knew that. You and Alberto were so young, and I was doing fine….. and mostly I didn’t want you to worry. It just felt like this impossible thing to place on you guys. On my sweet boys. And then I kept doing fine until about 10 years ago, when we went skiing and I broke my ankle and knee. But even after that, I wasn’t quite ready to tell you — only that my leg hadn’t healed all the way, which is why your mom had her limp. It wasn’t until five years ago, when I got Covid, that things started to go downhill in a way where there was no more hiding it. It was during football season, and I realized I wasn’t going to be able to travel. And the thought of you wondering if I supported you any less, because suddenly I wasn’t at your games? I hated that. So that’s when I knew we had to sit you and your brother down.
Alex Mendoza (Father)
Alex Mendoza is the father of Fernando and has played a key role in supporting his son's football career and the family's transition to a high-profile college football environment. He has been described in media reports as a quiet but consistent source of support, often managing the complexities surrounding Fernando's college career and his off-field business endeavors.
Indiana football quarterback Fernando Mendoza sees his mom and dad for the first time after winning a Big Ten Title pic.twitter.com/XevCQJn0yZ
— Michael Niziolek (@michaelniziolek) December 7, 2025Alex, along with Mandy, raised Fernando in Miami. The Mendozas have deep roots in the city, with Alex supporting Fernando through his high school years and during the period he spent at Cal before his transfer to Indiana.
MORE: Fernando Mendoza and Curt Cignetti react to Indiana's success
Where did Fernando Mendoza go to high school?
Mendoza attended Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. He was a notable quarterback for the Explorers, although he was not a heavily recruited prospect, which has added to his compelling underdog story.
Mendoza was part of the 2019 team that won the Florida 8A State Championship as a sophomore. Though he was the third-string quarterback, he gained valuable experience and started a few games that year due to injuries.
Fernando Mendoza high school stats
Mendoza played in 17 games in high school, the majority of starts coming his senior year. In 2021, he completed 107 of 169 passes (63.3% completion rate) for 1,169 yards, with 11 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions.
He led Columbus to the FHSAA Class 8A State Championship game. As a recruit, Mendoza initially committed to Yale before flipping to California.
Did Fernando Mendoza play other sports?
Mendoza did not play other sports in high school.
Fernando Mendoza recruiting offers
Mendoza was rated as a two-star or low three-star prospect, depending on the recruiting service, and was not highly sought after by Power Five (now Power Four) schools.
Rated as only a two-star or low three-star prospect, Mendoza did not attract the attention of top FBS schools for much of his high school career, despite leading his team to a state championship appearance. His initial and most notable offers came from smaller Division I programs, including Yale, Penn, and Lehigh. Believing this was his highest ceiling,
Mendoza committed to Yale before his senior year. Crucially, the University of California, Berkeley (Cal) was the only Power Five school to extend a scholarship offer to Mendoza, and it came very late in the cycle after another quarterback de-committed. Seizing the opportunity to play at the highest level, Mendoza flipped his commitment from Yale and signed with Cal, signaling that his remarkable career.
MORE: Meet Fernando Mendoza's family tree, including backup QB brother
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