- Mendoza receives excellent protection in advance: His attacking line still has to be accused of a bag or hit in pass protection, which led to its 15 passing touchdowns without interceptions and only one turnover-worthy game.
- Mendoza is the most accurate Quarterback in the country in 2025: His 83.2% adapted completion rate up to and including four games is the highest rating in the University Football.
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IndianaThe first test of the season was not really a test at all. De Hoosiers blew Big ten Rivival Illinois 63-10, and Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who passed to Indiana this spring after his first two college seasons in Cal, were at the forefront by completing 21 of 23 steps for five touchdowns, no interceptions and a 154.6 passer Rating-third week in a row of a row of a row.
The 16th ranking prospect of the PFF board, Mendoza, at least on the surface, seems to realize the expectations. During the first month of the season, his 90.0 PFF -passing figure is in fourth place in the country under Quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks, and his 83.2% adapted completion rate leads University Football. He has already posted 14 passing touchdowns (including three consecutive games with at least four) and has to throw another interception (he does have one turnover -worthy game).
Although the surface numbers are fantastic, the reality is that Mendoza still has to be challenged. His three large throws at this stage are only the 66th most national, because he was simply not asked to make many difficult intervening or deep fits in tight coverage. His attacking line has also kept his Jersey unspoilt, because they still have to be accused of a bag or get allowed with only 14 editions allowed in the season.
In 2024 in Cal, Mendoza was under much more pressure than he so far seen in Indiana and he was also much more sales-sensitive. Pff brought him for 17 sales-worthy plays last season. Three of those plays were awkward, while 12 of the 14 litters that were considered worthy of, were forced or determined in advance for his primary target.
Another point of concern from his film from 2024 was his tendency to drive in the bag and create his own pressure. His 26 loaded pressure last season placed him tied up for the fifth most in the country under 2026 design-intent for quarterbacks (and bound for 11th General). That is no problem so far in 2025, but it is worth monitoring as the season progresses in the conference schedule.
Although Illinois should have been the first test of the Hoosiers of the season, the inability of the Fighting Illini to put Mendoza consistently under pressure, combined with their man-heavy coverage schedule (51.2% of snaps in cover 1 or coverage of 0 this season), very easy to quickly diagnose.
The Matchup of Week 5 with Iowa should offer more challenges, because the Hawkeyes run a much more balanced mix of cover and Mendoza probably give more of the zone looks that disturb him in previous seasons. Future confrontations against Oregon and Ohio State will probably produce similar tests for Mendoza.
Iowa’s secondary
In addition to the figures, Mendoza flashes various intriguing properties that predict well for his NFL prospects. Mentioned on 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, he has a prototypical size at the next level. And although no one will accuse him that he is the next Lamar Jackson, he flashes a capacity to pick up conversions with his feet, largely because of his decisiveness as soon as he sees an open job to attack.
Larger quarterbacks often have an elongated delivery, but Mendoza has the compact release that the NFL level requires. Although he does not have an elite arm, he can put zip on the ball to defeat the coverage, and his ability to throw, he can be accurate for all parts of the field.
September has largely been a disappointing month for Quarterback- Provets that are expected to be selected in the top of the NFL design of 2026. Mendoza has an excellent process compared to those players, but his evaluation so far is clearly incomplete. The pieces seem to be there, but he still has to experience a lot of adversity and has to show growth in terms of reading defenses, going through progressions and making correct decisions as soon as playing breaks off.
With several huge games that approaches, Mendoza can claim that he is one of the best available prospects in his position in April – or set himself up for a BIG 2026 campaign if he decides to use another year of the suitability of the college.
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