California Mendoza
redshirted during the
2022 season. He earned his first career start in week six of the
2023 season against
Oregon State. He completed 21 of 32 pass attempts for 207 yards and two touchdowns with an interception in a loss to the Beavers. A week later, he was 10 of 17 passing for 149 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a loss to
Utah. Mendoza was named the team's starting quarterback heading forward. In eight starts as a
redshirt freshman, he completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,708 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading the Golden Bears to a 6–7 record and an
Independence Bowl appearance. Entering the
2024 season, Mendoza won the starting quarterback job for Cal, beating graduate transfer
Chandler Rogers. In week two against
Auburn, Mendoza completed 25 of 36 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Bears to an upset win over the Tigers. Mendoza was named ACC quarterback of the week in back-to-back games against
Oregon State and
Wake Forest, setting career highs in passing yards and completions. His 56 passing attempts against Wake Forest were the most by a Cal quarterback since 2016. On December 11, 2024, Mendoza announced he would be entering the
NCAA transfer portal.
Indiana On December 23, 2024, Mendoza announced his decision to transfer to
Indiana University Bloomington play for the
Hoosiers. In the 2025 season opener against the
Old Dominion Monarchs, Mendoza completed 18 of 31 passes for 193 yards and scored a touchdown on a five-yard rush as Indiana won 27–14. He completed 18 of 25 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns against the
Kennesaw State Owls, leading the Hoosiers to a 56–9 win. Against the
Indiana State Sycamores, Mendoza completed 19 of 20 passes for 270 yards and five touchdowns, and ran for an additional touchdown in a 73–0 win; he did not return to the game after halftime. Mendoza threw for a career-high five passing touchdowns against the No. 9
Illinois Fighting Illini on 21 of 23 passing with 267 yards. In a 20–15 win against the
Iowa Hawkeyes, Mendoza completed 13 of 23 passes for 233 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He completed 20 of 31 passes for 215 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 30–20 upset win on the road against the No. 3
Oregon Ducks. Mendoza threw for a season-high 332 yards on 24 of 28 passing while defeating the
Michigan State Spartans 38–13. He led the Hoosiers to a 56–6 win against the
UCLA Bruins, completing 15 of 22 passes for 168 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, adding a rushing touchdown; he left the game in the third quarter. Mendoza completed 14 of 21 passes for 201 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, with one rushing touchdown, as the Hoosiers defeated the
Maryland Terrapins, 55–10. In a 27–24 road win against the
Penn State Nittany Lions, Mendoza completed 19 of 30 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, adding a rushing touchdown; the passing touchdown, to receiver
Omar Cooper Jr., came in the final moments of the game to take the lead and was widely described as a "
Heisman moment". Against the
Wisconsin Badgers, he threw his 30th touchdown pass of the season, eclipsing the Indiana single-season program record set by
Kurtis Rourke the previous season; Mendoza finished the game 22 of 24 passing for 299 yards and four touchdowns in a 31–7 win. In the final game of the regular season, the
Old Oaken Bucket rivalry game against the
Purdue Boilermakers, Mendoza completed 8 of 15 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns, with one rushing touchdown, before leaving the game in the third quarter; Indiana won 56–3 to seal the program's first perfect regular season in the coldest game ever played at
Ross-Ade Stadium. In the
2025 Big Ten Championship Game against the No. 1
Ohio State Buckeyes, Mendoza threw for 222 yards and a touchdown, leading Indiana to a 13–10 victory and their first Big Ten title since 1967. He was named the game's
MVP for his performance. Mendoza led Indiana to its first
bowl game win since 1991, defeating the No. 9
Alabama Crimson Tide 38–3 in the
2026 Rose Bowl; he completed 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Mendoza completed 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns while defeating Oregon 56–22 in the
2026 Peach Bowl. In the
2026 College Football Playoff National Championship against the
Miami Hurricanes, he completed 16 passes for 186 yards while also rushing for a 12-yard touchdown, leading the Hoosiers to a 27–21 victory and the school's first-ever national title. For his performance, Mendoza received the Offensive Player of the Game award. For the 2025 season, Mendoza was named the
AP College Football Player of the Year, the winner of the
Chicago Tribune Silver Football, and the
Walter Camp Player of the Year. He was also the winner of both the
Maxwell Award and the
Davey O'Brien Award. He was also named
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year,
Big Ten Quarterback of the Year, and
first-team All-Big Ten. He was announced to be one of the four
Heisman Trophy finalists, along with
Julian Sayin,
Diego Pavia, and
Jeremiyah Love, ultimately being named the recipient of the award. Mendoza became the first player in Indiana school history to win the Heisman Trophy. After the season, he announced he would forego his final year of
NCAA eligibility and declare for the
2026 NFL draft. ==Professional career==