{"id":873219,"date":"2026-04-24T02:19:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T02:19:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/873219\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T02:19:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T02:19:16","slug":"fernando-mendoza-college-football-career-stats-highlights-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/873219\/","title":{"rendered":"Fernando Mendoza: College football career, stats, highlights, records"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Before becoming the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, Fernando Mendoza blossomed from an unheralded recruit at California into a Heisman trophy and College Football Playoff title-winning quarterback at Indiana.<\/p>\n

Here’s what you need to know about Fernando Mendoza’s college career.<\/p>\n

The vitals on Fernando Mendoza<\/p>\n

School: California\/Indiana
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 225 pounds
Years active: 2022-2025<\/p>\n

Here are Fernando Mendoza’s career stats from college:<\/p>\n

\t\t\tYEAR
\n\t\t\tGAMES
\n\t\t\tCOMP
\n\t\t\tATT
\n\t\t\tCOMP. %
\n\t\t\tPASS YDS
\n\t\t\tPASS TD
\n\t\t\tINT
\n\t\t\tRUSH TD<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2023
(Cal)
\n\t\t\t9
\n\t\t\t153
\n\t\t\t243
\n\t\t\t63.0
\n\t\t\t1708
\n\t\t\t14
\n\t\t\t10
\n\t\t\t2<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2024
(Cal)
\n\t\t\t11
\n\t\t\t265
\n\t\t\t386
\n\t\t\t69.0
\n\t\t\t3004
\n\t\t\t16
\n\t\t\t6
\n\t\t\t2<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2025
(Indiana)
\n\t\t\t16
\n\t\t\t273
\n\t\t\t379
\n\t\t\t72.0
\n\t\t\t3535
\n\t\t\t41
\n\t\t\t6
\n\t\t\t7<\/p>\n

\t\t\tCareer
\n\t\t\t36
\n\t\t\t691
\n\t\t\t1008
\n\t\t\t68.6
\n\t\t\t8247
\n\t\t\t71
\n\t\t\t22
\n\t\t\t11<\/p>\n

Where did Fernando Mendoza go to college?<\/p>\n

Fernando Mendoza, a native of Miami, Florida attended California out of high school. Per 247Sports<\/a>, Mendoza signed with Cal over other offers that included FIU, Yale and more. Mendoza first committed to Yale in the summer of 2021 before flipping to Cal in 2022. After three seasons at Cal (including a redshirt year), Mendoza transferred to Indiana in 2025.<\/p>\n

What kind of prospect was Fernando Mendoza in high school?<\/p>\n

Fernando Mendoza was a two-sport athlete in high school competing in both football and tennis. He began his high school career at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School as a freshman before transferring to Christopher Columbus High School. Mendoza was rated as high as a three-star recruit as the No. 216 overall player in Florida and the No. 131erall quarterback in the class of 2022, depending on the recruiting service.<\/p>\n

Mendoza finished his high school career with 2,222 passing yards and 29 passing touchdowns while completing 67.5 percent of his throws. He helped Columbus rank as high as the No. 14 team nationally as a junior, also earning first-team All-Dade County honors after an undefeated regular season. During his sophomore year, Mendoza was the backup quarterback on the FHSAA 8A state title-winning team.<\/p>\n

Mendoza also competed in the all-star camp circuit, earning MVP of the Rivals Miami Wilson Connected camp and participating in the Elite 11 Regionals and UnderArmour All-American Camp Regionals.<\/p>\n

What was Fernando Mendoza’s record in college?<\/p>\n

In his two years as a starter at Cal, Mendoza went 9-10, getting the Bears bowl-eligible in each season. After transferring to Indiana, Mendoza led the Hoosiers to an undefeated 16-0 season and a national championship.<\/p>\n

Records set by Fernando Mendoza<\/p>\n

Here are some of the notable records and statistical rankings set by Fernando Mendoza in college:<\/p>\n

\t1st in Indiana single-season passing touchdowns (41)
\n\t1st in Indiana single-season pass completion percentage (72.0%)
\n\t1st in FBS 2025 season passing touchdowns (41)
\n\t1st in FBS 2025 season passing efficiency\u00a0(182.9)
\n\t1st in FBS 2025 season points responsible for\u00a0(288)
\n\t1st in FBS 2025 season touchdowns accounted for (48)
\n\t1st in Indiana single-game total touchdowns (6)
\n\t1st in Indiana single-game pass completion percentage (95.0%)
\n\t1st in Rose Bowl single-game passing completion percentage\u00a0(87.5%)
\n\t1st in Rose Bowl single-game passer rating\u00a0(250.17%)
\n\t1st in Cal career completion percentage (66.4%)
\n\t2nd in Indiana single-season passing yards (3,535)
\n\t2nd in Indiana single-game passing completion percentage (91.7%)
\n\t3rd in Big Ten single-season passing touchdowns (41)
\n\t3rd in Indiana single-game passing completion percentage (91.3%)
\n\t4th\u00a0in Indiana single-game passing touchdowns (5)
\n\t4th in Indiana single-game passing completion percentage (85.7%)
\n\t7th in Indiana single-game passing completion percentage (85.0%)
\n\t7th in Cal\u00a0single-season total offense yards (3,109)
\n\t7th in Cal 250+ yard passing games (10)
\n\t8th in Cal single-season passing efficiency (144.59)
\n\t9th in California\u00a0single-season passing yards\u00a0(3,004)<\/p>\n

Which awards did Fernando Mendoza win in college?<\/p>\n

Here are the awards and honors Fernando Mendoza won in college:<\/p>\n

\tHeisman Trophy\u00a0(2025)
\n\tCFP National Championship Game Offensive MVP (2025)
\n\tPeach Bowl Offensive MVP (2025)
\n\tBig Ten Championship Game MVP (2025)
\n\tMaxwell Award\u00a0(2025)
\n\tWalter Camp Award\u00a0(2025)
\n\tDavey O’Brien Award (2025)
\n\tManning Award (2025)
\n\tBig Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2025)
\n\tBig Ten Quarterback of the Year (2025)
\n\tAP All-College Football Playoff Team (2025)
\n\tFirst Team All-American by AP, AFCA, FWAA, Walter Camp, Sports Illustrated (2025)
\n\tSecond-Team All-American by Sporting News (2025)
\n\tFirst-Team All-Big Ten (2025)
\n\tPac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honorable mention (2023)
\n\tAll-Pac-12 Fourth Team by Phil Steele (2023)<\/p>\n

See more Fernando Mendoza highlights below.<\/p>\n

Stan Becton joined NCAA.com in 2021 and has since served as a college football, FCS football, track and field, cross country and HBCU beat reporter. He has covered numerous NCAA championship events, including the FCS Championship, DI Track & Field Championships and Men’s Frozen Four. Additionally, he has covered the College Football Playoff and HBCU sporting events like the Celebration Bowl, MEAC\/SWAC Challenge and Legacy Classic. Stan graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, earning a degree in Professional Writing and playing football as a five-year letterman. You can follow him on Twitter @stan_becton<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.<\/p>\n

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