Do not be sad that it is almost over. Be happy that it happened. Fernandomania has swept over Bloomington, Indiana like a Bob Knight tossed chair across the hardwood floor. All signs point to Indiana Hoosiers superstar quarterback Fernando Mendoza not only winning the Heisman Trophy, but being the first quarterback taken in the 2026 NFL Draft. He could return, but he has to go now.
Mendoza is only a redshirt junior, but he has three year's worth of college football starts at the Power Four level. His first two seasons were at Cal, followed by his transcendent season at IU. Although Curt Cignetti could tab his younger brother Alberto Mendoza to be the starting quarterback for next year, as he was a sought-after recruit for him during his days at James Madison, there is also the portal...
Since Indiana is still not landing four and five-star recruits out of high school, there is a very strong possibility that Cignetti targets his next Mendoza in the transfer portal here soon. If you want proof of that, look at his last two starting quarterbacks. Mendoza previously played at Cal, while Kurtis Rourke spent the bulk of his college career at Ohio before coming to Indiana last year. It is bound to happen.
Let's take a gander at a handful of quarterbacks Indiana could potentially be looking at in the portal.
Candidates to replace Fernando Mendoza as Indiana Hoosiers' next QB
Internally, the Hoosiers seem to have a good option in Alberto Mendoza. If that is the route Cignetti wishes to go in, he has earned the benefit of the doubt. The man can do no wrong in Bloomington. As far as who Indiana could target in the portal, there are a handful of candidates to consider such as DJ Lagway, Sam Leavitt, Dylan Raiola, or Bryce Underwood for starters. They may be leaving their teams.
Leavitt seems like the most gone. He could not be bothered to show up to a team banquet earlier this month. Kenny Dillingham wished him the best of luck, so this dude is gone come Jan. 2. With how quickly Michigan has unraveled in the wake of Sherrone Moore being fired, Underwood may want to get the bag elsewhere. Raiola is a total enigma, while Lagway may not be the best fit for Jon Sumrall.
Yes, there are other candidates to be had, as we do not know who is officially entering the portal. Anything prior to Jan. 2 suggests that a player intends to enter it. They have shortened the transfer portal window this year, but keep in mind that it can always open up if a sitting head coach gets fired, or leaves on his own accord for some other job elsewhere. It is such a mess, but this is our reality...
In the end, we may very well see one Mendoza replace another at IU. It would not be shocking it is Alberto's day in the sun in 2026. That being said, Indiana is now an emerging national power. Money has not been an issue for IU in recent years. Of the four names listed, Leavitt feels like the best fit, but Underwood is not as big of a dark horse as you might suggest. What about landing LaNorris Sellers?
The more you think about it, the more and more likely Indiana is going to at least kick the tires on it.