There’s a lot of chatter this season about Fernando Mendoza. Landing in Bloomington last winter, Mendoza has quickly made a name for himself by transforming Indiana’s offense and lighting up the scoreboard. His progression week by week amazes fans and analysts alike. And it comes from his recent face-off against Indiana State on September 13, where he completed 19 of 20 passes for 270 yards and five touchdowns, adding a rushing score to boot in a dominating 73-0 win. That game tied the mark for the most total touchdowns by a QB in a single game in Indiana history. And his head coach has now spoken candidly about his progression and impact on the team.

Mendoza arrived from Cal seeking development under Indiana’s quarterback-friendly system, coached by Cignetti. Early on, he struggled with some decision-making, but he has rapidly improved his footwork, timing, and reads as the season has progressed. And if there were any doubts left, Curt Cignetti recently put them to rest in a Big Ten Football video on YouTube. In the video, Cignetti doesn’t hold back, singing nothing but praise for his star QB. “You could see the skill set at Cal, and then when he got to us, he needed some work in the pocket with just patience and poise, and getting through the progressions’ footwork,” Cignetti said.

That patience Cignetti talks about wasn’t just a throwaway line. Over two seasons with the Golden Bears, Fernando Mendoza completed 418 of 629 passes, boasting a solid 66.5% completion rate. He also threw 30 touchdowns against 16 interceptions. His 2024 season was a particular standout, where he racked up 3,004 passing yards and 16 TDs while winning multiple ACC Player of the Week honors after big games against Auburn in September and Wake Forest in November. But even with a resume that sparkled on paper, Mendoza had a real challenge to overcome once he arrived at Indiana. Fernando sometimes struggled with decision-making under pressure.

Cignetti has been candid about this. After Mendoza’s near-perfect performance against Indiana State, Cignetti pointed out that Fernando Mendoza still made a few “poor decisions” by trying to keep the ball on read options instead of handing it off when appropriate. But week by week, we’ve seen Mendoza sharpen those edges. The progress he’s made since the first game, Cignetti said. He improved his completion rate from 58% in Week 1 to an astonishing 95% by Week 3! It shows better command and awareness while making clutch throws.

Just really pleased with his QB, Cignetti continued in the same interview, “He would, I think, 20 of 21 last week, and he didn’t play in the second half at all. But he got a big-time arm, a lot of zip and velocity, quick whip. He’s mobile, he can extend plays, and get himself out of trouble. I don’t think we’ve given up a sack, and some of that’s because of him. And he’s gotten better in the pocket.”

The progression is hard to ignore. In Week 1 against Old Dominion, Mendoza went 18-for-31, threw for 193 yards, but didn’t find the end zone through the air. He was careful, no turnovers, but still a work in progress. Cignetti noted early on how Mendoza was grappling with patience in the pocket and reading defenses properly.

By Week 2, the numbers started climbing. Mendoza posted a 72% completion rate for 245 yards, showing clearer decision-making and faster reads. That week, his four touchdown passes proved he was slicing defenses open. Then came the Week 3 show against Indiana State, a game for the history books. Mendoza was surgical. That 95% completion rate wasn’t just a career-best; it set an Indiana single-game record.

Plus, Illinois’ defensive coordinator, Aaron Henry, has openly admired Mendoza’s game. “I’ve been watching this guy for a while back at Cal,” Henry said. “He makes some throws, you’re like ‘Oh my goodness.’ His arm is as live as live can get. He has a nice, beautiful ball he throws, his downfield vision, like his progression, he makes when he’s in the pocket, is incredible.” 

Cherry on top? Henry even called Mendoza an NFL quarterback. That’s high praise, but the real test is just a few hours away against Henry’s defensive unit. Mendoza and the Hoosiers are about to face Illinois, a team that knows exactly what kind of talent they’re dealing with.

Hoosiers brace for Illinois’ defensive storm

Indiana vs. Illinois this weekend isn’t just another late-September matchup. It’s a full-on high-stakes showdown that could shake up the Big Ten and College Football Playoff hopes for both squads. Curt Cignetti has already cleared his stance on Bret Bielema’s team, “They’re a veteran team, and they had a good year last year,” he said, “They’ve got a lot of guys returning that kind of know how to win.” Illinois comes into this weekend’s clash with a perfect 3-0 record, riding high off three commanding wins to start the season.

So you’ve got two unbeaten, nationally ranked teams going head-to-head for only the second time since 1950. Both sides come ranked with Indiana at No. 19 and Bret Bielema’s Illinois at No. 9. This fierce border rivalry has deep roots, dating back to 1899, and with 73 meetings under its belt. From an offense-defense clash to a CFP resume-boaster, this game is stacked with storylines. Indiana comes in with their explosive offense, averaging a jaw-dropping 52 points per game, led by dynamic QB Fernando Mendoza.

They’ve shown a fascinating blend of old-school power running behind backs like Roman Hemby and Lee Beebe Jr., mixed with a spread, uptempo RPO style that keeps defenses guessing. On the flip side, Illinois is packing one of the Big Ten’s stingiest defenses, allowing just 7.3 points per game. Defensive coordinator Aaron Henry, who has been tracking Mendoza since his Cal days, knows exactly how to disrupt him.

The stakes of this game are pretty high: The winner of this game sets itself up well in the Big Ten playoff hunt. Illinois, with a win, could leap to an 11-1 regular-season record, boosting its chances for a Big Ten title game appearance from 3% to 14%.