Indiana incoming transfers Fernando Mendoza and Pat Coogan were ranked among ESPN's top-100 transfers ahead of the 2025 season.
On Wednesday, ESPN released their final top-100 transfer rankings which included junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza and senior offensive lineman Pat Coogan. Mendoza comes in ranked as the No. 4 overall transfer and No. 4 transfer quarterback according to ESPN. Coogan was tabbed as the No. 92 overall transfer and No. 2 transfer center.
ESPN's Tom Luginbill had high praise for the Miami native Fernando Mendoza, who spent the last three seasons at Cal and previous two seasons as starting quarterback.
Mendoza was the third-leading passer in the ACC this season with 3,004 passing yards on 68.7% passing, 18 total touchdowns and 6 interceptions over 11 games, for Justin Wilcox and Cal.
"Mendoza is one of the most undervalued players at the position in college football," wrote ESPN's Tom Luginbill. "He's 6-5, a great athlete and is tough as nails. He was sacked a lot and kept getting back up. Mendoza can make all of the throws and is a sneaky, crafty athlete.
As a full starter for Notre Dame this season, Pat Coogan emerged as a leader for the Fighting Irish this season and became famous for his pregame speeches to fire his team up. Coogan's experience on the offensive line allowed running back Jerimiyah Love to eclipse 1,125 yards this season.
His addition bolsters an offensive line already strengthened through the portal additions of tackle Zen Michalski (Ohio State) and swing offensive lineman Khalil Benson Colorado).
Mendoza will have third-team All-Big Ten receiver Elijah Sarratt (957 yards, 8 TDs) to throw too this season in a balanced offense.
On defense, defensive coordinator Bryant Haines group finished No. 2 overall in the country last year. IU returns a first-team All-Big Ten player on each level with junior cornerback D'Angelo Ponds (nine PBUs and two pick six's in 2024), senior linebacker Aiden Fisher (118 tackles in 2024) and senior defensive lineman Mikail Kamara (15 TFLs in 2024).