Fernando Mendoza is from Miami. Why doesn't he play for Canes? Revisiting Indiana QB's recruitment

Indiana is playing Miami football in the CFP national championship game. Follow live updateshere.

This time last year, Fernando Mendoza found himself a few weeks removed from announcing his commitment to play for Curt Cignetti and Indiana football.

Fast forward a year, and the former Cal quarterback has orchestrated one of the greatest seasons in Hoosiers history that ends with the program's first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff national championship.

That it is the biggest start of his career. But it comes with a few familiarities for the Columbus High School product, most notably the opponent, No. 10 Miami, and the site location of the game: His hometown of Miami and Hard Rock Stadium.

"I've actually not played in Hard Rock before, but I've been to a lot of games there. And it's a very full-circle moment for myself," Mendoza said following Indiana's CFP semifinal win. "If you open Google Maps and put my address, the University of Miami campus, it's under a mile away. And I walked there, biked there, played basketball (recreational) games in the offseason there.

"It means a lot to me, however, I think the National Championship means a lot to everybody. So I wouldn't want it any other way, on a great stage that the Indiana Hoosiers are going to have to compete their butt off. They're a great team and really looking forward to the opportunity."

Under Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan, Mendoza has elevated his game to the next level in just one season. In addition to winning college football's highest individual honor, the Heisman Trophy, the 6-foot-5 quarterback leads the nation in touchdown passes and is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft.

Not bad for someone who was once ranked as the 2,149th best player in his high school recruiting class.

So, ahead of the Hoosiers and Hurricanes' 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium, here's what to know about why Mendoza hasn't ended up with the Hurricanes at any point of his playing career despite living in their backyard:

Why didn't Fernando Mendoza play for Miami Hurricanes?

Why Mendoza never played for Miami is a layered question.

The first part of it has to do with the Hurricanes' program at the end of the Manny Diaz era and the start of the Mario Cristobal era, as Mendoza had not been really recruited by the Hurricanes in the 2022 recruiting class despite being located right in their backyard. He was even prepared to play college football at Yale, but flipped to Cal when the Golden Bears joined in on the recruiting in the 11th hour of his senior year, i.e., after early signing day took place.

According to the Miami Herald-Times, the Hurricanes were "hesitant" to even offer Mendoza a preferred walk-on position on their roster.

"It lit a fire under me," Mendoza said on his high school recruiting at the 2023 ACC Football Kickoff, according to the Miami Herald-Times. "I was sad, and then I came to a realization: I’m not going to be a Miami football player, but it wasn’t God’s path for me."

Then came this past offseason when Mendoza elected to enter his name into the transfer portal after three seasons at Cal. The Hurricanes, of course, lost out on the Indiana quarterback who has brought multiple "first's" to the Hoosiers' program is just one year in Bloomington.

"Being a former Division I college recruiting coordinator, I knew he was a Division I quarterback," Mendoza's high school coach, Dave Dunn, recently told the Palm Beach Post — part of the USA TODAY Network — of Mendoza before he won the Heisman. "You knew he had the ability and just watching how hard he worked day in and day out. His process is pretty detailed, and it's really paid off for him. He just keeps building on getting better each day. You're watching all of that come to fruition."

Did Miami recruit Fernando Mendoza?

Yes, as reported by the Indianapolis Star — part of the USA TODAY Network — Cristobal and the Hurricanes made an attempt at Mendoza in the transfer portal last season before they landed Carson Beck. Miami was one of the additional programs that showed interest and had conversations with Mendoza on top of other eventual runner-ups, Georgia and Missouri.

"Football is awesome. It's almost that part of it coming full circle," Cristobal said during a CFP availability on Monday, Jan. 12, when asked about the irony of facing the son of his former high school teammate in the national championship game. "The Heisman was earned and well-deserved."

He added later in that availability: "He really has distinguished himself as the best football player in the country this year, and it's not by accident. A lot of reps, a lot of hard work, a guy that's been a complete difference-maker for their program."

Why did Fernando Mendoza choose Indiana over Miami, Georgia?

In addition to getting a fresh start and the desire to play for Cignetti and Shanahan, the Hoosiers provided the former Cal quarterback with something other programs couldn't offer: play with his younger brother, Indiana backup Alberto Mendoza.

"I think having my little brother there, who’s my best friend and the person who pushes me the hardest, it was great to have that, to see his perspective on the coaching staff, the culture," Fernando Mendoza told the Indianapolis Star in January of 2024.

What Jimmy Johnson said about Fernando Mendoza playing for Indiana instead of Miami football

Fernando Mendoza transfer rankings

• Star: 4-star
• National ranking: No. 22
• Positional ranking: No. 4

Fernando Mendoza was a top-ranked prospect in the NCAA transfer portal, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He was listed as a four-star recruit and the No. 4-ranked quarterback in the portal. He was additionally the No. 22 overall player in the portal.

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