Curt Cignetti has an elite track record when it comes to finding and developing quarterback talent.
During his time at James Madison, Cignetti coached Ben DiNucci and Cole Johnson to CAA Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2019 and 2021, Todd Centeio to Sun Belt Player of the Year honors in 2022, and Jordan McCloud to Sun Belt Player of the Year recognition in 2023. Upon arriving in Bloomington, Cignetti led Kurtis Rourke to Second Team All-Big Ten honors in 2024. Then of course, coached Fernando Mendoza to the Heisman Trophy in 2025 while also leading the Hoosiers to a historic National Championship. There’s no denying that Cignetti knows what he’s doing with quarterbacks.
Over the offseason, Cignetti had the option to hand the reins of the IU offense to Alberto Mendoza, who spent last season backing up his brother in Bloomington. But instead, Cignetti went out and got TCU quarterback Josh Hoover in the transfer portal. Through four weeks of the new season, that decision looks to be a good one.
Alberto Mendoza and Georgia Tech are off to a rough start in 2026
In an ideal world, it would have been cool to see Alberto follow in Fernando’s footsteps. The elder Mendoza cemented himself in Hoosier sports lore last season, and seeing his younger brother be Indiana’s QB1 the following year would have continued IU’s storybook rise under Cignetti’s leadership. But that’s not how it transpired…