Indiana’s star quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, has recently shared some personal insights regarding his life off the field. As the likely No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, he mentioned that he is steering clear of dating during his college football career, primarily to avoid distractions from romantic entanglements.
“Especially when it comes to girls, it can be really distracting,” Mendoza stated during his time playing for the University of California, Berkeley’s Golden Bears. “I mean, maybe I’ll find my first love in college or something like that, but I’m going to focus on my game, so if I do happen to get a girlfriend, I’ll have to really make an effort.”
This clear commitment to his priorities surfaced shortly after leading the Hoosiers to their first national championship in the College Football Playoff.
In a video shared back in 2024, Mendoza expressed confidence in his NFL prospects, saying, “I believe I can make it to the NFL. But for now, I need to minimize distractions.”
Reflecting on his time at Berkeley, he mentioned living just a short, three-minute walk from the football facility. The proximity allowed him to stay focused, though he also mused that being in a relationship could have impeded his training.
“I think having a girlfriend might have taken away from my training schedule more than I’d like to admit,” he said. “It’s a time commitment; instead of just going home, I’d be spending those hours hanging out, like getting dinner or watching movies during game week.”
Mendoza transferred from California to Indiana before the 2025 season and had an impressive performance, throwing for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns, which earned him the Heisman Trophy.
He and the Hoosiers capped off an undefeated season with a narrow 27-21 victory over Miami in the championship game last Monday.
