16-0. The Indiana Hoosiers did it! They became one of the most improbable teams in college football history to win a national championship. Blessed with the brilliant mind of Curt Cignetti and the unbelievable leadership of Fernando Mendoza, it is all about IU today, and not The U... However, the Mendozas will be leaving Bloomington all together, with Alberto Mendoza hitting the transfer portal.
CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz was all over Mendoza entering the portal after the national championship.
Indiana QB Alberto Mendoza is entering the transfer portal, sources tell me and @chris_hummer.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 20, 2026
Mendoza, the younger brother of Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, was IU’s backup QB this year. In limited action, was 18 of 24 for 286 yards with five TD passes. Also ran for 190 yards pic.twitter.com/uvm6HcaZHv
Although Mendoza is a late portal entrant, he has been tied to Georgia's in-state rival Georgia Tech...
Sources tell @CBSSports that Georgia Tech is among the early teams to watch with Alberto Mendoza, who is entering the portal after serving as his brother Fernando’s backup at QB for Indiana this season https://t.co/2pwoxDmbc1 pic.twitter.com/dLIIMIf5Z9
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 20, 2026
If Mendoza were to transfer to Georgia Tech, he would be the one to replace Haynes King in 2026.
Alberto Mendoza has been linked to Georgia Tech in the transfer portal
While there was some belief that Alberto Mendoza may stick with Indiana after his older brother Fernando left for the NFL, the Hoosiers sealed their fate by landing former TCU starter Josh Hoover out of the portal weeks ago. Rather than try to battle for supremacy in Bloomington, Mendoza may go to a much easier place to win the starting job in 2026. Georgia Tech has to find its next quarterback.
With King having exhausted all of his eligibility, as well as his backup last year in Aaron Philo off to Florida with Buster Faulkner to be Jon Sumrall's first starter at Florida, the Ramblin' Wreck had to counter. Replacing Faulkner as Brent Key's next offensive coordinator is former Georgia Tech star quarterback George Godsey. He has an NFL background. One would think Mendoza would fit nicely.
As for what this means for Georgia, we are looking at the younger brother of an iconic college quarterback hitting the portal as soon as his older brother turns pro. We saw this happen not that long ago when Taulia Tagovailoa left Alabama for Maryland once Tua Tagovailoa entered the 2020 NFL Draft. Tauliga Tagovailoa was a tremendous starter for Mike Locksley for years in College Park.
Should Mendoza transfer to Georgia Tech, that could add another wrinkle into this rivalry series.