The Journey: Mendoza Brothers Flourish for Resurgent Indiana Football

Indiana football is off to a dream start in 2025 — 5-0 and ranked No. 8 with a huge game looming at Oregon. At the center of it all are two brothers leading the same position. Fernando and Alberto Mendoza, quarterbacks from Miami, have both made the stat sheet every week. Fernando, the starter, has been nearly flawless: 16 touchdowns, one interception and a 73% completion rate through five games. Alberto, a redshirt freshman, has already tossed three touchdowns in relief, making them the first brothers in a decade to throw TDs for the same FBS team in the same season.

Playing on the same team has made this season feel different not just for the brothers, but for their parents too. Their mom, who battles multiple sclerosis, is often in the stands with their dad beside her, holding signs and wearing orange ribbons to raise awareness. For them, seeing both boys in the same uniform has been a gift. After touchdowns, the brothers often point toward her, a gesture that carries more weight than any stat line. “It filled our parents’ hearts with joy,” Fernando said after a game where both brothers threw touchdown passes.

When Fernando transferred from Cal, it was Alberto who already knew Indiana’s system. Over winter break in Miami, the younger brother spread the playbook across their kitchen table and walked his big brother through it.

“My brother has been a tremendous resource,” Fernando said. “We watch film together, he gives me tips, little keys you only get from experience. We do everything together, even the tough times.”

Their parents’ athletic backgrounds are woven into the story, too: their mom played tennis at Cornell, their dad rowed crew at Brown. And their Cuban roots — all four grandparents emigrated from Havana and Santiago — gave the boys a foundation of perseverance and pride that shows up every time they step on the field.

The Mendozas’ journey began at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, where Fernando starred before handing the reins to Alberto. Alberto went on to win back-to-back state titles and Florida’s 4M Player of the Year. They never shared a high school huddle, but now they share one in Bloomington — and it’s made them inseparable.

The brothers took different paths before reuniting at Indiana. Fernando spent three years at Cal, where he threw for more than 4,700 yards and 30 touchdowns