Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza has committed to Indiana, according to multiple news outlets on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Mendoza had a standout season as a redshirt sophomore for the Golden Bears last season and is now hoping Indiana coach Curt Cignetti can do the same for him as he did with Kurtis Rourke did.

Rourke transferred from Ohio to Indiana after spending five seasons with the Bobcats in the Mid-America Conference. In 2023, he was a second-team All-Mid-American Conference selection, and this season he was a second-team All-Big Ten selection, behind Dillon Gabriel.

Rourke helped Indiana to a surprising 11-1 regular-season record and helped the Hoosiers earn a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff a year after going 3-9. Indiana lost to Ohio State in the CFP and finished 11-2.

Mendoza was ranked as the third-best quarterback in ESPN’s transfer portal and has two more seasons left in college.

He chose Indiana after visiting Georgia and Missouri. Mendoza also had interest in Wisconsin and UCLA.

Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards this season with 16 passes of his own and six interceptions.

He helped Cal to a 6-5 record and bowl eligibility before missing the final regular-season game against SMU. Mendoza’s absence was felt in this game as the Bears failed to score a touchdown in a 38-6 loss.

Without Mendoza in the LA Bowl, Cal lost 24-13 to UNLV.

Cal was the only FBS school to offer Mendoza a scholarship to Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. He was supposed to go to Yale before Cal offered him a last-minute scholarship.

Mendoza became Cal’s starting quarterback in the sixth game of the 2023 season as a redshirt freshman and retained the starting job despite Cal bringing in veteran quarterback Chandler Rogers, who had been the 2023 stater at North Texas.

Mendoza improved to the point where he is now considered a possible NFL candidate.

He will be remembered at Cal for leading the 98-yard touchdown drive to beat Stanford and become bowl eligible, and his emotional postgame TV interview.

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