The Transfer Portal is officially closed as of Friday, January 16, but for the two National Championship teams, Indiana and Miami, they will have a few extra days to make some decisions with their seasons having just ended. None of those players were going to enter the portal while they were still in season, but expect some announcements to be made just like the one Alberto Mendoza just made.
The younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, Alberto spent the season as the abckup for his brother, but if now choosing to find elsewhere to play in 2026. Alberto will enter the transfer portal after seeing limited action at Indiana this season and having at least two years of eligibility left.
Indiana QB Alberto Mendoza is entering the transfer portal, sources tell me and @chris_hummer.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 20, 2026
Mendoza, the younger brother of Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, was IU’s backup QB this year. In limited action, was 18 of 24 for 286 yards with five TD passes. Also ran for 190 yards pic.twitter.com/uvm6HcaZHv
The news came just hours after Indiana won its first National Championship in program history, and it wasn't a huge surprise. Even though Mendoza served as the primary backup for his brother and did pretty well at the job, the Hoosiers have brought in TCU transfer Josh Hoover to be their expected starter for next season.
As the main backup this season, Alberto was 18-for-24 for 296 yards and five touchdowns with just one interception. He was also a threat with his legs, with 13 carries for 190 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. The majority of his time on the field came when the Hoosiers had big enough leads to pull the starters out for safety.
Former Indiana QB Alberto endoza already linked to Georgia Tech out of the Transfer Portal
Even though the Alberto Mendoza transfer portal news is fairly fresh, he is already being linked to one school where he would have a chance to battle for the starting position. Alberto is already linked to Georgia Tech out of the ACC, which just lost quarterbacks Haynes King and Aaron Philo.
If Mendoza were to end up with the Yellow Jackets, he would be joining a quarterback room with Graham Knowles, redshirt freshman Grady Adamson, and true freshman Cole Bergeron. It is a room with little experience, but it could make for a very interesting quarterback battle.
Mendoza will now be stepping out from behind his brother's shadow and hopefully will find his starting position somewhere as he has the talent, now he just needs the opportunity.