Heisman Winner Mendoza Reveals He Nearly Chose Georgia Over Indiana

The national champion quarterback says it was a close decision between the Bulldogs and Hoosiers after transferring from Cal.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 7:23pm

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Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner and national champion quarterback, recently revealed in a radio interview that he was close to committing to play for Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs after transferring from Cal, before ultimately choosing to join the Indiana Hoosiers instead.

Why it matters

Mendoza's decision to transfer from Cal and join Indiana was a major storyline last offseason, as he went on to have an incredible year, winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Hoosiers to the national championship. The fact that he was also strongly considering Georgia, one of the top college football programs in the country, adds an interesting wrinkle to his recruitment process.

The details

In the radio interview, Mendoza shared that his decision to transfer from Cal came down to choosing between Georgia and Indiana. The Hoosiers ended up landing the star quarterback, who went on to have a historic season, winning the Heisman Trophy and leading Indiana to the national title.

  • Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy and the national championship this past season (2025-26).
  • Mendoza transferred from Cal to Indiana last offseason (2025).

The players

Fernando Mendoza

The Heisman Trophy winner and national champion quarterback who transferred from Cal to Indiana last offseason.

Kirby Smart

The head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, one of the top college football programs in the country.

Curt Cignetti

The head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, who landed Mendoza as a transfer last offseason.

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What’s next

Mendoza is expected to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, where he is projected to be one of the top quarterback prospects.

The takeaway

Mendoza's decision to transfer from Cal and join Indiana proved to be a pivotal moment, as he went on to have a historic season and lead the Hoosiers to the national championship. The fact that he was also strongly considering Georgia shows just how highly sought-after the talented quarterback was during his recruitment process.