Fernando Mendoza, the Cal quarterback who led the Bears in an up-and-down 2024 season, is reportedly heading to Indiana within the switch portal.
Mendoza’s vacation spot was revealed Tuesday morning by a number of nationwide studies, together with ESPN, which reported he additionally visited Georgia and Missouri. His brother Alberto, a freshman, was a backup quarterback for the Hoosiers on their run to the Faculty Soccer Playoff this season.
The 21-year-old Miami native entered the switch portal on Dec. 11 and didn’t take part within the Bears’ LA Bowl loss to UNLV final week.
Cal completed the season 6-6 after a 3-0 begin that included a street win at Auburn drew consideration to the Bears and Mendoza. They proceeded to lose 4 consecutive video games by a mixed 9 factors to open ACC play earlier than stabilizing to achieve a bowl.
Mendoza’s second profession win over Stanford got here final month in an 11-point comeback that moved the sophomore to tears throughout a postgame interview after the Bears’ 98-yard drive to take a late lead.
Earlier this month, Cal coach Justin Wilcox mentioned he had tried to persuade Mendoza to remain, however Mendoza mentioned in his switch portal announcement on social media that he was transferring “for the sake of my football future.”
Mendoza joins a Hoosiers group that had one of the best season in program historical past, going 11-1 within the common season underneath first-year coach Curt Cignetti with graduate switch Kurtis Rourke main the offense. The Hoosiers misplaced to Notre Dame final Friday within the first spherical of the brand new 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff.
Mendoza, who took over the Cal beginning job as a freshman in 2023, steps into Rourke’s function after passing for 3,004 yards on 68.7 % completion for the Bears this season.
The bowl recreation loss supplied a peek at two of the choices for Wilcox and new offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin in 2025. Fifth-year sophomore CJ Harris began the sport however went out with an harm, ending 13-of-20 for 109 yards. Extremely touted freshman EJ Caminong relieved him however struggled, going 6-of-19 for 57 yards.
