Curt Cignetti analyzes differences for Indiana with Fernando Mendoza from Kurtis Rourke

QB Kurtis Rourke gave Indiana one of the best pocket passers in the country last season in leading one of the nation’s top offenses. However, this year, the Hoosiers will be able to have to some more mobility with QB Fernando Mendoza transferring in.

Curt Cignetti explained the differences between what the two quarterbacks did and will bring to IU while on ‘Always College Football’ with Greg McElroy last week. That’s most seen in the run game with how much more they can move Mendoza in 2025 as compared to how little they even tried to do it with Rourke in 2024.

“I think, with (Mendoza), you’re going to get some of it without even calling it,” said Cignetti. “You know, like, we’re having a big discussion on the quarterback draw and, when you look at our pocket passes and how many times he runs for big gains – you know, why do you even have to put it in, right?”

“So, yeah, will we move him around a little bit more than we did (Rourke)? You know, we moved Kurtis Rourke 0.25% of the time last year. Not even one percent. Everybody knew where he was launching it from,” Cignetti noted. “We’ll move that launch point a little bit more this year and you’ll probably see, you know, a little quarterback run here and there.”

That’s not to dismiss Mendoza’s passing ability, though. Rourke did throw it better statistically last season with Indiana but Mendoza posted similar numbers in completion rate and passing yardage for California.

“I mean, he’s a big guy, he’s got good movement. Quick release, can make all the throws. He’s accurate also and throws the ball on the run really well,” Cignetti said of Mendoza.

Rourke in Bloomington and Mendoza in Berkeley both threw for just over 3,000 passing yards with no more than six interceptions on completion rates just under 70% at 69.4% and 68.7% respectively. Rourke did post almost double the amount of passing touchdowns with 29 while averaging better in yards per attempt, yards per completion, and yards per game as the quarterback of the No. 2 scoring offense in the country. Still, though, Mendoza had alike passing stats, albeit for an offense that scored fewer points, while also showing at least some sense of having a dual-threat with his legs, although some of that production not reflected considering he took over double the amount of sacks as Rourke did.

Rourke got the job done from the pocket in leading Indiana to its best season in program history, which got him selected in the 2025 NFL Draft last month. Now, Mendoza, the No. 4 QB and a Top-20 transfer per On3, will try to add another layer to that in taking over as the Hoosiers’ QB1.