Indiana football fans have at least one more game to appreciate Fernando Mendoza. However, preparation for the post-Mendoza era is already underway.
TCU quarterback Josh Hoover committed to the Hoosiers out of the transfer portal on Sunday, Jan. 4. Hoover is the second major coup for Curt Cignetti and Indiana of the day, as it landed Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh earlier on Jan. 4.
Hoover has been entrenched as the Horned Frogs’ starting QB since his redshirt freshman season. He has made 31 straight starts for TCU and has 9,629 career passing yards and 71 passing touchdowns. Both those marks are the best among QBs returning in 2026.
One pitfall with Hoover is turnovers, as he has thrown 33 career interceptions in his career. This season, he completed 272-of-413 passes (65.9%) for 3,472 yards and 13 interceptions.
Hoover will be tasked with replacing Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner. Mendoza has led Indiana to a perfect 14-0 record through the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. He has 3,172 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions.
The transfer portal opened on Friday, Jan. 2, and remains open through Jan. 16.
Josh Hoover transfer portal, recruiting ranking
Hoover was a 3-star recruit in the 2022 recruiting class, per 247Sports’ Composite ratings, coming out of Rockwall-Heath High School in Rockwall, Texas. He was ranked as the No. 709 overall player and 41st-ranked quarterback in the class.
The 6-foot-2 signal-caller was originally committed to Indiana under head coach Tom Allen. He, however, announced his decommitment on Dec. 6, 2021, and then committed to the Horned Frogs 10 minutes later.
Stars: 3
National rating: No. 709 overall
Position ranking: No. 41 QB
State ranking: No. 103 player from Texas
Following his four-year run at TCU, Hoover was the No. 35 overall player and the No. 9 quarterback in the 2025 portal rankings.
Josh Hoover stats
Here’s a look at Hoover’s stats in his four seasons with the Horned Frogs;
2022: 1-of-1 passing (100%) for 2 yards
2023: 185-for-298 passing (62.1%) for 2,206 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine touchdowns
2024: 313-of-471 passing (66.5%) for 3,949 yards, 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions
2025: 272-of-413 passing (65.9%) for 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions