Indiana QB Alberto Mendoza, brother of Hoosiers hero, transferring to Georgia Tech after CFP title
Mendoza backed up his Heisman-winning brother and will now have a chance to start for the Yellow Jackets
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The Indiana Hoosiers enter the 2026 season as the defending national champions, and in their quest to go back-to-back they will have a new quarterback room. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza will head off to the NFL as the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in April's draft. His younger brother, Alberto, who served as his backup, quickly entered the transfer portal and has signed with Georgia Tech, sources told CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer on Tuesday.
The younger Mendoza appeared in nine games for the Hoosiers, as they regularly found themselves comfortably in front late in games where they could pull the starters. In those appearances, Alberto Mendoza completed 18 of his 24 pass attempts for 286 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
The Yellow Jackets represent an excellent fit for the younger Mendoza after starter Haynes King graduated and Aaron Philo transferred to Florida. Philo followed offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to Gainesville, leaving Georgia Tech with a clear need at quarterback. Mendoza can fill that void and join a Yellow Jackets roster that's added a top running back in Michigan's Justice Haynes and a top receiver in Alabama's Jaylen Mbakwe during this portal window.
Meet Josh Hoover, the TCU transfer who will follow Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza as Indiana QB
Shehan Jeyarajah
On the Indiana side, the departure of Alberto Mendoza isn't a surprise considering the Hoosiers already filled their starting quarterback spot for 2026 in the transfer portal prior to the national title game. The Hoosiers signed former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, who will be Curt Cignetti's third straight starter acquired via the transfer portal.
The first two have worked out incredibly well, with Kurtis Rourke helping Indiana reach its first playoff appearance in 2024 and then Mendoza leading the Hoosiers to their first-ever national title in 2025. That ramps up the pressure on Hoover to keep Indiana as a national title contender, but the Hoosiers certainly appear set to reload for another run at the Playoff in Cignetti's third season.
