With Indiana football on a more than three week break, the staff will have plenty of time to address 2026 roster needs via the transfer portal.
As is this case every year at this time, we’ll bring you the key names to know as they emerge.
IU has brought in two high profile quarterbacks over the last two years, and after Kurtis Rourke was drafted this spring and Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman this weekend, the Hoosiers should have no trouble attracting a third straight.
One name to know at quarterback is Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt. He’s expected to formally enter the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2.
On3 is reporting Indiana is among the early schools to watch along with Oregon, Miami and LSU.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Leavitt is from West Linn, Ore.
Leavitt put his name on the map in 2024 after leading the Sun Devils to a Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff appearance. He completed nearly 62 percent of his passes for 2,885 yards and 24 TDs to just six interceptions.
Leavitt dealt with injuries throughout 2025 and played just seven games. He completed over 60 percent of his throws for 1,628 yards and 10 TDs against just three picks. He is out for the rest of the season with a foot injury.
Also a threat to run, Leavitt has rushed for 749 yards and 10 TDs over the last two years.
Starting his college career in the Big Ten with Michigan State, Leavitt played in four games as a true freshman in 2023, completing 15-of-23 passes for 139 yards and two TDs with two interceptions while rushing 13 times for 67 yards.
He was rated a three-star transfer product and a Top-25 quarterback transfer by 247Sports and also a three-star transfer prospect by Rivals.
Leavitt has two years of eligibility remaining.
Indiana is currently expected to have three scholarship quarterbacks return next season from the 2025 team — Alberto Mendoza, Tyler Cherry and Jacob Bell. Alberto is the only of those three with any college experience. He has completed 18 of 24 throws this season for 286 yards and five touchdowns. He has also rushed for 184 yards and a score.
Fernando Mendoza has a year of eligibility remaining, but he’s widely expected to be a first-round NFL Draft choice in April.
For complete coverage of IU football recruiting, GO HERE.
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