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'It was amazing to be here with him': Fernando and Alberto Mendoza first pair to accomplish college football feat in 10 years

headshotby: Alec Lasley09/07/25allasley
Syndication: The Herald-Times
Indiana's Alberto Mendoza (16) and Fernando Mendoza (15) celebrate Alberto's touchdown pass during the Indiana versus Kennesaw State Big Ten football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — It’s not often you have brothers on the same roster in college. It’s even more rare to have brothers at the same position … on the same roster. But for Indiana football, that’s exactly what it has with starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza and second string quarterback Alberto Mendoza.

Alberto, who committed to Curt Cignetti while at James Madison, followed the coaching staff to Indiana. Fernando committed to Cal out of high school. Neither of the two quarterbacks thought a season like 2025 would be a reality.

“Honestly, no. When I went to Cal, he went to JMU so I didn’t think our paths would cross,” Fernando said in the spring. “It’s been an incredible journey and an incredible privilege. Just really grateful to be able to play with him.”

That journey — while not a linear path — came full circle on Saturday when the two brothers did something that hadn’t been done in a decade at the college level.

After Alberto threw a late 6-yard touchdown with 6:03 left in the game, the Mendoza brothers etched their names in college football history, becoming the first set of brothers to throw a touchdown in the same game since 2015 (Brandon and Austin Allen; Arkansas).

What made it an even more special moment? It was both brother’s first touchdown pass in an Indiana jersey. Fernando, who came into Indiana throwing for 30 touchdowns across two seasons at Cal, went without a passing touchdown in Indiana’s season opener. Alberto threw just one pass all of 2024.

Fernando didn’t just stop at one though — as he went 18-of-25 for 245 yards and four touchdowns. And, he was en route to a likely fifth touchdown before an unsportsmanlike penalty on Kennesaw State for a late hit had Curt Cignetti sit his starter down.

“As a competitor, you don’t want to be taken out of the game, for a split second I was like I want to score again,” Fernando said following the 56-9 win on Saturday. “Then I realized my little brother was going in.”

Four plays later, it was Alberto connecting with Charlie Becker for his first touchdown in an Indiana jersey.

“It was fantastic,” Fernando said. “It was amazing to be here with him, have that partnership that we’re working together to push us to get better to get the Hoosiers as many wins as possible.

“To see him out there operate efficiently with confidence and no hesitation was great. It really shows he’s going to be able to take the next step and be a great quarterback one day.”

While it was Alberto’s first touchdown, and Fernando’s 31st, it was also Fernando’s first four-touchdown game.

“I feel like I’m getting closer,” Fernando said. “The first game against ODU I feel like I was a little too excited and wanted to show Hoosier fans what I had. Just had to go back to the fundamentals.”

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