It seems fair to say there’s virtually no way to exceed what Fernando Mendoza did for Indiana football in 2025.
16-0. National champion. Heisman Trophy winner. No. 1 NFL Draft pick.
How do you top that?
You don’t.
But it seems equally fair to acknowledge the quarterback you think you know before he arrives at IU is not the quarterback you’re going to see in year one with coach Curt Cignetti and his staff.
We’ve documented this “QB whisperer” phenomenon extensively.
On average, Cignetti’s last six starters at quarterback going back to his time at James Madison have seen a 275% improvement in touchdown to interception ratio, a 25.4% increase in quarterback rating, and a 23.2% improvement in PFF grade. They’ve all won major postseason honors as well.
Ahead of last year, CBS Sports ranked Mendoza as just the third best quarterback in the Big Ten, and an ESPN article gave him the 23rd best odds to win the Heisman. And no one was projecting Kurtis Rourke to be named second-team All-Big Ten and lead the league in QB rating.
So how should we react when someone who has game planned against projected IU starter Josh Hoover isn’t particularly impressed by the TCU transfer?
Here’s what a Big 12 defensive coordinator told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg about Hoover.
“It’s going to be a step down. He’s not going to be [Fernando] Mendoza,” the Big 12 DC told ESPN. “I wasn’t a hater of his, but I thought he was a pretty average to slightly above-average guy. I don’t think he’s going to go there and win the Heisman.”
Slightly above average could be a description used for each of the last six quarterbacks Cignetti had before they arrived in Bloomington. And taking a step down from Mendoza and/or not winning the Heisman wouldn’t really be a cause for major concern.
After all, Carson Beck, Trinidad Chambliss and Dante Moore weren’t Heisman finalists but all took their teams to the national semifinals in January. That’s the real goal here, and as Cignetti said in the spring, Hoover should have an elite running game and defense to compliment his skill set. Although he plays a critical position, it’s not all on his shoulders.
For his part, Hoover knowingly stepped into the fire.
“I wanted to get better,” Hoover said in the spring. “I wanted to be the best quarterback I could be. No. 1, I felt coming here would give me a chance to get better, get developed by some great coaches and No. 2, be part of a great program with a bunch of great guys who are unselfish. …
“I’m trying to be the best version of myself and be who I am every day. That’s all I have to do. Be myself. Fernando is an unbelievable person and player. I have to be myself, do my best for IU, and make guys around me better.”
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