Fernando Mendoza has declared for the 2026 NFL draft and is the presumptive No. 1 pick heading into April. With his college career now complete, his time playing under Curt Cignetti has come to an end, but the memorable run they shared during the 2025 season is one he will carry with him for years to come.
Fernando Mendoza Pulls Back the Curtain on Why Curt Cignetti Demands Fear and Loyalty
Anyone who follows college football is familiar with Curt Cignetti’s trademark stone-faced demeanor, and it is the same expression he wears whether Indiana is making a huge play or piling up wins.
Even before the Hoosiers claimed the national title in 2025 with a win over Miami, Cignetti rarely showed much outward reaction to his team’s big moments or major achievements.
Indiana players, including Mendoza, know the intense, demanding side of Cignetti better than anyone. Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show on Friday, the Indiana quarterback described Cignetti’s no-nonsense approach.
“Coach Cignetti has kind of gone back to that hard a** mentality where he’s going to rip you,” Mendoza said (18:10). “He doesn’t really care about his feelings. He cares about winning. And so in the day and age where coaches are trying to be all friendly and relate to the players, he’s the exact opposite. He’s a CEO, he’s a feared leader, and he’s a respected leader.
And so with that, he’s able to run a hell of an enterprise, a hell of an organization. And from the top down, everybody knows it’s about business every single week. It’s about preparing to the best of your ability. And he can never be complacent, and never be satisfied. And I think that’s what makes the Indian Hoosier so special.”
Cignetti’s relationship with the Mendoza family began earlier, when he recruited Fernando’s younger brother, Alberto, during his time at James Madison. When Cignetti accepted the Indiana job, Alberto followed him to Bloomington.
Despite heavy interest from power programs such as Georgia, Missouri, and Miami, Cignetti won over Fernando by focusing on growth over promises. He told Mendoza that while he couldn’t guarantee outcomes, he could ensure the quarterback would become the best version of himself.
That message proved prophetic, as Mendoza delivered a historic 2025 season, throwing for 3,535 yards with 41 passing touchdowns while adding seven scores on the ground. The PFSN CFB QB Impact Metric‘s No. 2 signal-caller went on to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy, along with the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, and Big Ten MVP honors.
Meanwhile, Cignetti earned AP Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons. Following Mendoza’s draft decision, he quickly reloaded by landing former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover through the transfer portal to lead Indiana in 2026.
