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By Jordan Sigler
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No single individual had a bigger season in college football than Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
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On Saturday, Mendoza was gifted the Heisman Trophy after throwing for 2,980 yards, 33 touchdowns and six interceptions. The transfer from California led IU to its first Big Ten championship since 1967.
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Mendoza spent two seasons at Cal before transferring to Indiana. He was one of the hottest quarterbacks in the transfer portal last year.
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Former sports agent Ben Dogra told Newsweek that the Miami native turned down a better monetary offer from the Hurricanes to join head coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers.
"(Mendoza) made $2.3 million from Indiana, but he only made $100,000 a Cal," Dogra said. "But he was offered more by the University of Miami and turned it down. That's why they got Carson Beck."
Per The Athletic, Beck was expected to make $4 million this season playing for Miami. While at Georgia, he was thought to be a first-round quarterback before hitting a wall towards the end of last year.
Beck threw for 3,072 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in the regular season, leading the Hurricanes to an appearance in the CFP with a 10-2 record. Miami will travel to play Texas A&M in the first round of the CFP on Saturday.
It's fair to say that Beck's draft stock at Miami has not risen at the same level as Mendoza's has at Indiana this season.
By joining IU, Fernando also had the opportunity to play alongside his brother, Alberto.
Dogra suggested Fernando thought his chances to be a high draft pick would be better if he signed with Indiana, even if that meant giving up nearly $1 million to play for Miami in 2025.
"Let's just say Indiana was a better fit," Dogra said. "If you've got a kid from Florida that goes to Cal broke for three years and then transfers to Indiana. And his NIL money is going significantly up from, let's say, $2 million plus, but he was offered $3 million plus at Miami, his hometown.
"The reason he didn't take it is because he had a better chance to become a more successful quarterback and grow to get ready for the next level. And that's exactly what happened. So that's coaching."
Mendoza's plan worked. He's flying up draft boards and could be the No. 1 pick in April's draft.
Coaching and Mendoza were the key to Indiana earning a No. 1 ranking entering the CFP.
In the CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl, the Hoosiers will next play the winner of Friday night's game between No. 9 Alabama and No. 8 Oklahoma.
For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.
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