Fernando Mendoza: College football career, stats, highlights, records

Before becoming the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, Fernando Mendoza blossomed from an unheralded recruit at California into a Heisman trophy and College Football Playoff title-winning quarterback at Indiana.

Here's what you need to know about Fernando Mendoza's college career.

The vitals on Fernando Mendoza

School: California/Indiana
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 225 pounds
Years active: 2022-2025

Here are Fernando Mendoza's career stats from college:

Where did Fernando Mendoza go to college?

Fernando Mendoza, a native of Miami, Florida attended California out of high school. Per , Mendoza signed with Cal over other offers that included FIU, Yale and more. Mendoza first committed to Yale in the summer of 2021 before flipping to Cal in 2022. After three seasons at Cal (including a redshirt year), Mendoza transferred to Indiana in 2025.

What kind of prospect was Fernando Mendoza in high school?

Fernando Mendoza was a two-sport athlete in high school competing in both football and tennis. He began his high school career at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School as a freshman before transferring to Christopher Columbus High School. Mendoza was rated as high as a three-star recruit as the No. 216 overall player in Florida and the No. 131erall quarterback in the class of 2022, depending on the recruiting service.

Mendoza finished his high school career with 2,222 passing yards and 29 passing touchdowns while completing 67.5 percent of his throws. He helped Columbus rank as high as the No. 14 team nationally as a junior, also earning first-team All-Dade County honors after an undefeated regular season. During his sophomore year, Mendoza was the backup quarterback on the FHSAA 8A state title-winning team.

Mendoza also competed in the all-star camp circuit, earning MVP of the Rivals Miami Wilson Connected camp and participating in the Elite 11 Regionals and UnderArmour All-American Camp Regionals.

What was Fernando Mendoza's record in college?

In his two years as a starter at Cal, Mendoza went 9-10, getting the Bears bowl-eligible in each season. After transferring to Indiana, Mendoza led the Hoosiers to an undefeated 16-0 season and a national championship.

Records set by Fernando Mendoza

Here are some of the notable records and statistical rankings set by Fernando Mendoza in college:

• 1st in Indiana single-season passing touchdowns (41)
• 1st in Indiana single-season pass completion percentage (72.0%)
• 1st in FBS 2025 season passing touchdowns (41)
• 1st in FBS 2025 season passing efficiency (182.9)
• 1st in FBS 2025 season points responsible for (288)
• 1st in FBS 2025 season touchdowns accounted for (48)
• 1st in Indiana single-game total touchdowns (6)
• 1st in Indiana single-game pass completion percentage (95.0%)
• 1st in Rose Bowl single-game passing completion percentage (87.5%)
• 1st in Rose Bowl single-game passer rating (250.17%)
• 1st in Cal career completion percentage (66.4%)
• 2nd in Indiana single-season passing yards (3,535)
• 2nd in Indiana single-game passing completion percentage (91.7%)
• 3rd in Big Ten single-season passing touchdowns (41)
• 3rd in Indiana single-game passing completion percentage (91.3%)
• 4th in Indiana single-game passing touchdowns (5)
• 4th in Indiana single-game passing completion percentage (85.7%)
• 7th in Indiana single-game passing completion percentage (85.0%)
• 7th in Cal single-season total offense yards (3,109)
• 7th in Cal 250+ yard passing games (10)
• 8th in Cal single-season passing efficiency (144.59)
• 9th in California single-season passing yards (3,004)

Which awards did Fernando Mendoza win in college?

Here are the awards and honors Fernando Mendoza won in college:

• Heisman Trophy (2025)
• CFP National Championship Game Offensive MVP (2025)
• Peach Bowl Offensive MVP (2025)
• Big Ten Championship Game MVP (2025)
• Maxwell Award (2025)
• Walter Camp Award (2025)
• Davey O'Brien Award (2025)
• Manning Award (2025)
• Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2025)
• Big Ten Quarterback of the Year (2025)
• AP All-College Football Playoff Team (2025)
• First Team All-American by AP, AFCA, FWAA, Walter Camp, Sports Illustrated (2025)
• Second-Team All-American by Sporting News (2025)
• First-Team All-Big Ten (2025)
• Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honorable mention (2023)
• All-Pac-12 Fourth Team by Phil Steele (2023)

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