In less than 24 hours, Indiana went from having two Mendozas to none.
Starting QB Fernando Mendoza, the likely No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, led the Hoosiers to a 27-21 win over Miami on the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night.
On Tuesday, his younger brother and backup, Alberto, announced his transfer to Georgia Tech, according to On3, hours after entering the portal.
A redshirt freshman, Alberto threw for 286 yards on 9-of-18 passing, posting five touchdowns and one interception through the air. He added 190 rushing yards and a touchdown in relief of his Heisman Trophy-winning older brother.
While Fernando seems all but a lock to be taken by the Raiders with the top pick in the NFL draft on April 23, Alberto will enter a competition with Yellow Jackets returners Graham Knowles and Grady Adamson, as well as 2026 signee Cole Bergeron.
Former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover committed to play for the Hoosiers earlier this month and is the expected starter next season.
On3 reports Alberto had strong interest from Duke among other schools.
A three-star recruit out of Miami’s Columbus High, he had offers from FIU, UAB, Appalachian State, East Carolina, James Madison and UConn, but opted to follow his brother to Bloomington.
With three years of eligibility left, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound rising sophomore will have time to try and measure up to Fernando’s stunning collegiate exploits, but it won’t be easy.
The 22-year-old Fernando capped off Indiana’s unbeaten season with a touchdown for the ages on Monday night, rushing up the middle for 12 yards on a fourth-and-5 play in the fourth quarter, bouncing off would-be tacklers and going full extension in mid-air to give the Hoosiers a 23-14 lead — and what would ultimately be the game-winning score.
