MIAMI (AP) — For the second straight year, the biggest game in college football will be decided by a quarterback who wasn’t on the roster the year before.
Heisman-winning Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza arrived in Bloomington in December 2024 following three years at California. Carson Beck transferred to Miami in January 2025 with one year of eligibility remaining after five years at Georgia.
Last January, a similar story was being told. Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard had transferred in from Duke, and Ohio State acquired Will Howard after four years at Kansas State. Both signal-callers had proven success elsewhere and adapted to new systems well enough to lead their respective teams to the national championship game.
The occasional one-off success story has now become a broader trend, raising the question of whether transfer quarterbacks are the fastest path to the national championship.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti says there’s no time to wait for development in this day and age in college football. Winning requires immediate action.