Indiana Hoosiers new starting QB is already being compared to Fernando Mendoza
Replacing a legend is never easy. And for the Indiana Hoosiers football, replacing Fernando Mendoza might be close to impossible. Mendoza didn’t just have a great year; he delivered the greatest college football season in program history.
He threw for 3,535 yards, accounted for 48 total touchdowns, won the Heisman Trophy, led Indiana to a 16–0 record, and captured a National Championship. That’s not just success. That’s legacy.
And now, someone else has to step into that role. MORE: 2026 College Football preseason All-American lists Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) holds the Heisman Trophy with Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, during the Indiana Football College Football Playoff National Championship celebration and parade at Memorial Stadium.
Credit: Grace Hollars-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images Curt Cignetti Finds His Next QB Head coach Curt Cignetti didn’t wait around. He went straight to the transfer portal and landed his new QB1: Josh Hoover from TCU. On paper, Hoover brings serious credentials: 9,629 career passing yards 79 total touchdowns One of the most productive returning quarterbacks in college football entering 2026 This isn’t a developmental project.
This is a proven player stepping into a massive opportunity. Indiana’s Josh Hoover (10) during Indiana University spring football practice on Thursday, March 26, 2026. Early Comparisons to Mendoza The comparisons have already started.