This is unbelievable, barely made the starting QB at Cal and now he is undefeated possibly playing for a National Championship, possible Heisman candidate.........damn better check to see if he is wearing glass slippers too!

we get it, ur a urine stained sofa cal bear fan that is trolling this site, nobody gives 2 ***** about nando in that jks is our guy

at some point the guys in the apartment next to u in boise are gonna complain about the stench coming outta ur unit & gonna complain about u to the landlord

Fernando is about to win the heisman. Crazy quick development. Tip your cap to the guy

wut time is ur incel get together tonite??

1. redshirted at Cal when he was a true freshman

2. "... barely made the starting quarterback at Cal..." when he was a redshirt freshman

3. was a good quarterback at Cal when he was a redshirt sophomore

4. is a very good quarterback at Indiana as a redshirt junior


That's the way it's supposed to go, right? (except for the part about leaving Cal and going to Indiana)

Big C said:

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1. redshirted at Cal when he was a true freshman

2. "... barely made the starting quarterback at Cal..." when he was a redshirt freshman

3. was a good quarterback at Cal when he was a redshirt sophomore

4. is a very good quarterback at Indiana as a redshirt junior


That's the way it's supposed to go, right? (except for the part about leaving Cal and going to Indiana)

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4. "Very good" vs "Heisman favorite " is actually a big difference and is the thing that is surprising.

I mean, Cal has had some great, not just very good QBs (and RBs) but none were Heisman finalists much less favorites.

calumnus said:

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Big C said:

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1. redshirted at Cal when he was a true freshman

2. "... barely made the starting quarterback at Cal..." when he was a redshirt freshman

3. was a good quarterback at Cal when he was a redshirt sophomore

4. is a very good quarterback at Indiana as a redshirt junior


That's the way it's supposed to go, right? (except for the part about leaving Cal and going to Indiana)

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4. "Very good" vs "Heisman favorite " is actually a big difference and is the thing that is surprising.

I mean, Cal has had some great, not just very good QBs (and RBs) but none were Heisman finalists much less favorites.

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The narrative, and not a player's talent or production, is always a more important factor for deciding who gets invited to the Heisman.

Mendoza has developed into a very good QB, but it's his supporting cast that is carrying that team. A running game that averages 250 yards/game. Receivers who make improbable catches on some passes that aren't always the most accurate. A championship caliber defense that has provided numerous short fields to work with or outright scores. In the end, his teammates lift Mendoza more than he lifts his teammates. I'm not even sure he's the MVP of that team let alone the top player in the country, but the Heisman is a popularity contest most years so he should do well.

QB recruiting is tricky. Purdy was the 49ers last pick in the draft, 3rd string, behind 1st round pick Trey Lance. Shannahan told John Lynch at the end of camp his best QB was the 3rd stringer.

Don't know about Heisman but I had him picked to be a very good draft prospect - 1st round. Heisman requires some luck, a winning team, and a lot of hype. Indiana turned out better this year than last even with a tougher schedule.

I'd never draft him though because of the SMU and JKS ***** Guy gives off Jeff George vibes and could tear apart a franchise.

If he and everyone else stood at cal, would he still be a heisman candidate? Our record would still b bad but could he stood get the trophy?

We really do a great job developing QBs through suffering. Both Goff and Mendoza have lightning fast release times, thanks to our "monster" OLine folding like traffic cones

SouthKBear said:

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If he and everyone else stood at cal, would he still be a heisman candidate? Our record would still b bad but could he stood get the trophy?

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There's a reason why Mahomes wasn't a Heisman candidate. If JKS decides to stay, the biggest winner would be whichever NFL team drafts him for cheap

calumnus said:

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I mean, Cal has had some great, not just very good QBs (and RBs) but none were Heisman finalists much less favorites.

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Your comment triggered the memory of my favorite Chuck Muncie story:

"He would also recount being called back to San Diego for an offseason workout. Don Coryell had called him and said he heard Muncie was severely out of shape.

"I've got on shorts, a Hawaiian shirt, straw hat," Muncie said. "I pull up and everybody is running 40s. They look at me and say, 'Where's your gear?' I say, 'I don't need no gear.' I get out of the car smoking a cigarette. I put the cigarette on the ground, stretched a little bit and ran a 4.53. Coryell looks at me and says, 'I guess you're in pretty good shape.' … I must not have been fun to coach. But I was good."
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2013/05/14/chargers-great-chuck-muncie-changed-his-life-others/

Bill, lay off these guys. In the words of the great philosopher (the late) Ralph Barbieri (KNBR host), two things can be equally true. Here are the truths about Mendoza:

Is what he did with JKS crappy? Yes.

Was he right to be afraid of Mendoza coming to Cal? Also yes, because JKS might have beaten him out.

Does he owe Cal? Also yes, because otherwise he'd have gone to Yale, and would probably have never been heard from again, in a football sense. Also, I agree his pocket awareness and release probably were helped by being in fear of his life behind last year's OL.

Would he be in contention for the Heisman at Cal? Probably not, because players on so-so teams rarely get Heisman consideration.

Is he in a better situation at Indiana than at Cal? Definitely yes, because there's more talent around him, and he appears to have better coaches, which is why Cal needs a new head coach.

Is Cal in a better situation without him? Probably yes, because we have at least one more year of JKS to look forward to, and I think JKS is a better natural talent than Mendoza.

Lastly, we should note Spavital's role in all of this. If what was said at the time is true, Spavital, even after Mendoza appeared to do the best job moving the chains, wanted to bench him and try Jackson V again. Spavital, it appears to me, was more concerned about defending his recruiting choice, and his bromance with RPO quarterbacksm, than he was about actually winning football games, which really irritates me.

DoubtfulBear said:

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We really do a great job developing QBs through suffering. Both Goff and Mendoza have lightning fast release times, thanks to our "monster" OLine folding like traffic cones

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There are no for sures in recruiting but I think drafting/recruiting a QB on a good team that gives him tons of time, has running game options and has great receivers that get open make the QB fraught with questions, regardless of his physical tools. You have to see them in a collapsing pocket throwing into tight windows.

"You have to see them in a collapsing pocket throwing into tight windows."

A great recruiting pitch.

Muncie should have been the runaway winner of the Heisman, no question.

Jeff82 said:

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Bill, lay off these guys. In the words of the great philosopher (the late) Ralph Barbieri (KNBR host), two things can be equally true. Here are the truths about Mendoza:

Is what he did with JKS crappy? Yes.

Was he right to be afraid of Mendoza coming to Cal? Also yes, because JKS might have beaten him out.

Does he owe Cal? Also yes, because otherwise he'd have gone to Yale, and would probably have never been heard from again, in a football sense. Also, I agree his pocket awareness and release probably were helped by being in fear of his life behind last year's OL.

Would he be in contention for the Heisman at Cal? Probably not, because players on so-so teams rarely get Heisman consideration.

Is he in a better situation at Indiana than at Cal? Definitely yes, because there's more talent around him, and he appears to have better coaches, which is why Cal needs a new head coach.

Is Cal in a better situation without him? Probably yes, because we have at least one more year of JKS to look forward to, and I think JKS is a better natural talent than Mendoza.

Lastly, we should note Spavital's role in all of this. If what was said at the time is true, Spavital, even after Mendoza appeared to do the best job moving the chains, wanted to bench him and try Jackson V again. Spavital, it appears to me, was more concerned about defending his recruiting choice, and his bromance with RPO quarterbacksm, than he was about actually winning football games, which really irritates me.

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Is he in a better situation at Indiana versus Cal? How many shots of Tequila did you need to make that observation!

C6Bear said:

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Mendoza has developed into a very good QB, but it's his supporting cast that is carrying that team. A running game that averages 250 yards/game. Receivers who make improbable catches on some passes that aren't always the most accurate. A championship caliber defense that has provided numerous short fields to work with or outright scores. In the end, his teammates lift Mendoza more than he lifts his teammates. I'm not even sure he's the MVP of that team let alone the top player in the country, but the Heisman is a popularity contest most years so he should do well.

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See Matt Leinert

Probably get to test the theory next year.

C6Bear said:

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Muncie should have been the runaway winner of the Heisman, no question.

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Muncie was so much better than Archie Griffin it wasn't even close.

CalBarn said:

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C6Bear said:

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Muncie should have been the runaway winner of the Heisman, no question.

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Muncie was so much better than Archie Griffin it wasn't even close.

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. Back then, the way tv coverage worked, if Muncie won (most deserved) the entire football world would have gone, "Who!?".
Woody would have punched someone in OSU's marketing department.

Trumpanzee said:

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This is unbelievable, barely made the starting QB at Cal and now he is undefeated possibly playing for a National Championship, possible Heisman candidate.........damn better check to see if he is wearing glass slippers too!

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I thought he was much better than most people here gave credit for. The coaches couldn't even give him credit while they farted around with the much less skilled QB all season. Mendoza was disliked by Cal coaches and fans from the first incomplete.

There were some things he did that were very smart and capable, that were exposed by the bad Oline. Most people mentally punished him for the bad Oline. Put him behind a strong oline, and he would crush most teams.


JKS shows the same instincts, and seemingly more talent, at a younger age. JKS makes more mistakes, especially when frustrated and late game, IMO, as a True Freshman would. But ultimately what people really love about JKS are in the same line as what I thought I saw for Mendoza. Now with an oline, Mendoza is doing what he did here, with a second or two more per play. I think this season Mendoza is the better QB.


Before anyone else says it, JKS is probably the best freshman QB I have ever seen. Even with drops and bad oline, he looks like he will be much better than Mendoza in short order.


Whats funny about Mendoza is even now people are working so hard to justify their opinion of him, but now they have to work so hard for conformation bias to work that they just make up stuff.

C6Bear said:

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Muncie should have been the runaway winner of the Heisman, no question.

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Lynch, too.

Arrington wasn't even invited, iirc.

Trumpanzee said:

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Jeff82 said:

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Bill, lay off these guys. In the words of the great philosopher (the late) Ralph Barbieri (KNBR host), two things can be equally true. Here are the truths about Mendoza:

Is what he did with JKS crappy? Yes.

Was he right to be afraid of Mendoza coming to Cal? Also yes, because JKS might have beaten him out.

Does he owe Cal? Also yes, because otherwise he'd have gone to Yale, and would probably have never been heard from again, in a football sense. Also, I agree his pocket awareness and release probably were helped by being in fear of his life behind last year's OL.

Would he be in contention for the Heisman at Cal? Probably not, because players on so-so teams rarely get Heisman consideration.

Is he in a better situation at Indiana than at Cal? Definitely yes, because there's more talent around him, and he appears to have better coaches, which is why Cal needs a new head coach.

Is Cal in a better situation without him? Probably yes, because we have at least one more year of JKS to look forward to, and I think JKS is a better natural talent than Mendoza.

Lastly, we should note Spavital's role in all of this. If what was said at the time is true, Spavital, even after Mendoza appeared to do the best job moving the chains, wanted to bench him and try Jackson V again. Spavital, it appears to me, was more concerned about defending his recruiting choice, and his bromance with RPO quarterbacksm, than he was about actually winning football games, which really irritates me.

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Is he in a better situation at Indiana versus Cal? How many shots of Tequila did you need to make that observation!

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It's obvious, unless you believe he would have the same record and the same QB rating behind the supporting cast he would have this year at Cal. If you believe that, you're clearly using something stronger than tequila.

LunchTime said:

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Trumpanzee said:

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This is unbelievable, barely made the starting QB at Cal and now he is undefeated possibly playing for a National Championship, possible Heisman candidate.........damn better check to see if he is wearing glass slippers too!

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I thought he was much better than most people here gave credit for. The coaches couldn't even give him credit while they farted around with the much less skilled QB all season. Mendoza was disliked by Cal coaches and fans from the first incomplete.

There were some things he did that were very smart and capable, that were exposed by the bad Oline. Most people mentally punished him for the bad Oline. Put him behind a strong oline, and he would crush most teams.


JKS shows the same instincts, and seemingly more talent, at a younger age. JKS makes more mistakes, especially when frustrated and late game, IMO, as a True Freshman would. But ultimately what people really love about JKS are in the same line as what I thought I saw for Mendoza. Now with an oline, Mendoza is doing what he did here, with a second or two more per play. I think this season Mendoza is the better QB.


Before anyone else says it, JKS is probably the best freshman QB I have ever seen. Even with drops and bad oline, he looks like he will be much better than Mendoza in short order.


Whats funny about Mendoza is even now people are working so hard to justify their opinion of him, but now they have to work so hard for conformation bias to work that they just make up stuff.

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Mendoza (circa 2023) could always throw a ball with zip downfield between the hashes 30 or even 40 yards on a rope. People who said he was good at short passes were looking at a different QB. He is tall with an over the top delivery, His timing on sideline deep throws (which was mostly all we did long) and fades wasn't good but that is a matter of practice and repetition with your receivers to get the timing right. He has improved greatly year to year on that count.

Also, in 8 games as the primary QB in 2023 he had 10 interceptions and 3 fumbles. Almost as many turnovers as TD passes (14). In 2024 in 11 games it was 6 Interceptions and no fumbles with 16 TD passes. This year in 10 games it is 5 interceptions and no fumbles against 26 TD passes. So pretty dramatic year over year improvement which is due to his commitment to self-improvement (and the great coaching his is getting this year).

He has also always been a surprisingly good runner with 92 net yards and 2 TDs in 2023, 105 net yards and 2 TDs in 2024 and 250 net yards and 5 TDs this year. Part of that is he is sacked less this year, due to having a better offensive line, better running game, but undoubtedly improved pocket awareness as well. Something that comes with experience but Sagapolutele has had since day one.

Mendoza is full of intangibles. He isn't the fastest. He doesn't have the best arm. He doesn't have any specific athletic attributes that make you say "WOW what an athlete!" I'm convinced this is why he didn't get D1 offers, why he was rated 2 stars, and why he was 3rd string at Cal. Guys like Sam Jackson would blow you away with their athleticism and great plays in practice.

Mendoza would blow you away with his play in games. One of those "Plays better than he practices" players who isn't necessarily super flashy but gets the job done consistently.

As to his weaknesses...His biggest weakness at Cal was inability to change the arch on his throw. He was always able to do the deep passes, but as noted before it was always on a rope. They have good accuracy, but the problem with always throwing the ball on a rope is that the ball will get there faster than your receiver can. To make up for that you need to have an oline that cna protect you the 2-3 seconds it takes for the WR to make a move, get separation and get down field. Being able to put some arch on the throw gives time for receivers to get under the ball, allows you to throw the ball earlier, and can help make up for a bad oline.

Indiana has obviously done a great job of protecting him which negates this some. I am convinced the gamer attitude and intangibles will translate to the NFL, but he is still going to have to figure out how to get arch on his passes for the deep balls if he is going to succeed long term.

Could no quarterbacks be taken in the first round?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6798922/2025/11/14/nfl-draft-quarterback-executives-franchise/?campaign=15696785&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=12198658

ncbears said:

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Could no quarterbacks be taken in the first round?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6798922/2025/11/14/nfl-draft-quarterback-executives-franchise/?campaign=15696785&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=12198658

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Jets, Browns, Saints and even Raiders are desperately in need of a franchise QB. They will all be fighting for draft position to land Mendoza and Simpson

DoubtfulBear said:

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ncbears said:

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Could no quarterbacks be taken in the first round?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6798922/2025/11/14/nfl-draft-quarterback-executives-franchise/?campaign=15696785&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=12198658

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Jets, Browns, Saints and even Raiders are desperately in need of a franchise QB. They will all be fighting for draft position to land Mendoza and Simpson

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If Mendoza gets drafted by a ****ty team his chance for a successful NFL career will be when he is traded to a good team a few years later as a backup. That probably goes for almost all college QBs drafted by bad teams.

82gradDLSdad said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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ncbears said:

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Could no quarterbacks be taken in the first round?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6798922/2025/11/14/nfl-draft-quarterback-executives-franchise/?campaign=15696785&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=12198658

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Jets, Browns, Saints and even Raiders are desperately in need of a franchise QB. They will all be fighting for draft position to land Mendoza and Simpson

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If Mendoza gets drafted by a ****ty team his chance for a successful NFL career will be when he is traded to a good team a few years later as a backup. That probably goes for almost all college QBs drafted by bad teams.

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That's not entirely true. Caleb Williams is doing pretty well now with Ben Johnson at the helm

DoubtfulBear said:

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82gradDLSdad said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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ncbears said:

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Could no quarterbacks be taken in the first round?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6798922/2025/11/14/nfl-draft-quarterback-executives-franchise/?campaign=15696785&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=12198658

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Jets, Browns, Saints and even Raiders are desperately in need of a franchise QB. They will all be fighting for draft position to land Mendoza and Simpson

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If Mendoza gets drafted by a ****ty team his chance for a successful NFL career will be when he is traded to a good team a few years later as a backup. That probably goes for almost all college QBs drafted by bad teams.

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That's not entirely true. Caleb Williams is doing pretty well now with Ben Johnson at the helm

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The Jets are in the most need and then probably the Raiders, although Geno could QB 2-3 more years. I don't think the Saints and Browns are giving up on their rookies yet.

DoubtfulBear said:

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82gradDLSdad said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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ncbears said:

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Could no quarterbacks be taken in the first round?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6798922/2025/11/14/nfl-draft-quarterback-executives-franchise/?campaign=15696785&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=12198658

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Jets, Browns, Saints and even Raiders are desperately in need of a franchise QB. They will all be fighting for draft position to land Mendoza and Simpson

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If Mendoza gets drafted by a ****ty team his chance for a successful NFL career will be when he is traded to a good team a few years later as a backup. That probably goes for almost all college QBs drafted by bad teams.

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That's not entirely true. Caleb Williams is doing pretty well now with Ben Johnson at the helm

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Good point. I guess a new coach could make a huge difference. Typically though bad teams have bad talent evaluators and when those teams do some sort of overhaul the QB may not have been that good fo begin with. The 49ers with Walsh, Deberg and Montana are a good example. Deberg wasn't even that bad but I think I remember Walsh saying he'd play just good enough to lose. I haven't followed the Bears but I know Caleb had a lot of talent coming out of college.

oski003 said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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82gradDLSdad said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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ncbears said:

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Could no quarterbacks be taken in the first round?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6798922/2025/11/14/nfl-draft-quarterback-executives-franchise/?campaign=15696785&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=12198658

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Jets, Browns, Saints and even Raiders are desperately in need of a franchise QB. They will all be fighting for draft position to land Mendoza and Simpson

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If Mendoza gets drafted by a ****ty team his chance for a successful NFL career will be when he is traded to a good team a few years later as a backup. That probably goes for almost all college QBs drafted by bad teams.

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That's not entirely true. Caleb Williams is doing pretty well now with Ben Johnson at the helm

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The Jets are in the most need and then probably the Raiders, although Geno could QB 2-3 more years. I don't think the Saints and Browns are giving up on their rookies yet.

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Will see how Shedeur looks this week, but it's clear Dillon Gabriel isn't the Browns starter. With the Saints, will see how Tyler Shough will be consistent or if it was just a flash in the pan. He's also 26, so not a very long prime at this rate