The Indiana Hoosiers and head coach Curt Cignetti are coming off a historic season—one that ended with a trip to the College Football Playoff and the best record in program history. And they didn’t slow down this offseason, either, especially on the recruiting trail.
Their biggest addition?
Former Cal quarterback Fernando Mendonza, who’s stepping in to replace Kurtis Rourke under center. That’s no small task, but nationally, some believe Mendonza could not only match Rourke’s production—he might just surpass it.
One of those believers is On3Sports reporter Andy Staples.
Staples recently released his list of “College Football Heisman Trophy Dark Horses,” and Mendonza made the cut, coming in with +5000 odds. That’s the definition of a dark horse, but it’s a sign that eyes are already on Bloomington.
Mendonza’s sophomore year at Cal had its ups and downs—he threw for 3,004 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions with a QBR of 63.8. Still, the potential is obvious. Cignetti saw it, and that’s why he worked so hard to bring him in through the portal.
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Rourke put up over 3,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns last season, but Mendonza is seen as a more polished and accurate passer—someone who can truly thrive in Cignetti’s system and lead this offense into a new era.
If the Hoosiers take another step forward and Mendonza finds his rhythm, there’s real reason to believe the hype. With Indiana trending up and Cignetti calling the shots, Mendonza could easily become more than just a dark horse.
He might just crash the Heisman conversation before the season's over.