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Fernando Mendoza turned down major NIL offer from Miami to join Indiana.

Fernando Mendoza has become the top quarterback in college football. The Indiana Hoosiers star captured the Heisman Trophy and is now one win away from leading Indiana to its first national championship in program history.

Indiana will meet the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on January 19, a matchup that adds an extra layer of intrigue.

Not only is the national championship game being played in Miami’s home stadium, it also represents a homecoming for Mendoza. He attended Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, where he won a state championship — the same school Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal attended.

Mendoza’s father was teammates with Cristobal at Christopher Columbus, while his mother played college tennis at the University of Miami. Mendoza grew up just a mile from the university’s campus.

That background raises a natural question: How did Mendoza end up at Indiana instead of Miami — and now find himself facing the Hurricanes in the biggest game of his career?

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Fernando Mendoza Wasn’t Offered by Miami

Coming out of high school, Mendoza was a three-star prospect, ranked as the No. 135 quarterback in the country and the No. 250 overall player in Florida, according to 247Sports. Despite his local ties, the only Power Four program to offer him a scholarship was California Golden Bears, where he ultimately committed.

At the time, then-Miami head coach Manny Diaz and his staff never extended an offer and were even hesitant to bring Mendoza on as a walk-on, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.

Mendoza entered the transfer portal last December, and many believed he could land with his hometown team, which was searching for a replacement for Cam Ward. That scenario never materialized, even though Miami eventually made an offer.

Miami Was Turned Down by Fernando Mendoza

Miami was desperate to replace its Heisman Trophy finalist from the 2024 season and reportedly made Mendoza a lucrative NIL offer, according to Newsweek’s Ben Dogra.

“Mendoza made $2.3 million from Indiana, but he only made $100,000 at Cal,” Dogra said. “But he was offered more by the University of Miami and turned it down. That’s why they got Carson Beck.”

So why didn’t Mendoza choose Miami? Dogra said the decision had everything to do with development, despite the Hurricanes’ larger offer.

“Let’s just say Indiana was a better fit,” Dogra said. “If you’ve got a kid from Florida that goes to Cal broke for three years and then transfers to Indiana, and his NIL money is going significantly up — let’s say $2 million-plus — but he was offered $3 million-plus at Miami, his hometown, there’s a reason he didn’t take it.

“The reason he didn’t take it is because he had a better chance to become a more successful quarterback and grow to get ready for the next level. And that’s exactly what happened. So that’s coaching.”

Mendoza is now widely viewed as the projected No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, a selection currently held by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Before the draft becomes the focus, Mendoza has one more goal: leading Indiana to its first national championship. At this point, he is already considered a Hoosiers legend. If he delivers a title in his hometown — against the team that once passed on him — that legacy will only grow larger.

Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker

Nearly 5,000 Division I college football players have officially entered the NCAA transfer portal since it opened for business on January 2. The numbers are vast, but the cream of the crop always rises to the top.

There are a few positions that aren’t as deep on the open market this year, including offensive tackle and linebacker. The top players at those spots are becoming increasingly coveted by teams looking to flip their rosters ahead of the 2026 season.

MORE: 3,500-yard college football transfer QB announces commitment after All-American season

In a recruitment that has provided plenty of twists and turns, one of the most desired defenders in the portal continues to explore his options.

According to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Pittsburgh junior linebacker transfer Rasheem Biles is expected to visit Miami on Sunday, the final day before a dead period. Biles previously took trips to Texas, Michigan, and Colorado. He also cancelled a visit to Florida State.

The Hurricanes are gearing up for a national championship appearance against the Indiana Hoosiers next week, but are pulling double duty in the portal. Miami is a known spender in the NIL era, while the Longhorns and Wolverines have plenty of funds as well.

A big payday appears to be exactly what Biles is searching for, going into his final season of eligibility. There’s a good chance he’ll be able to cash in, considering his production at Pittsburgh over the last three years. Biles is ranked No. 1 among linebackers in the transfer portal, per On3.

MORE: Big 10 starter eyeing three major programs in college football transfer portal

In just ten games this past season, Biles totaled a career-high 101 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 4 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, and three defensive touchdowns. He tied for the most pick-sixes in the country, earning a second-team All-ACC selection. Biles ranked in the top five in the conference in total tackles and tackles for loss.

Biles broke onto the scene in 2024, recording 82 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 9 pass deflections, and 1 interception that he returned for a touchdown.

The Ohio native tied the Pittsburgh record for blocked kicks in a single season during his true freshman campaign. He blocked three punts, getting his hands on a kick against West Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida State.

Biles stands at 6-foot-1, 215-pounds. He will have one season of eligibility remaining.

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As Curt Cignetti and Indiana put together a storybook run to the national championship game, Mark Cuban watched closely. He has made multiple donations to his alma mater’s football program, including one ahead of this year’s transfer portal cycle.

Cuban graduated from Indiana in 1981 before becoming an entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks. Over the last two years, since Cignetti arrived in Bloomington, he has contributed to the school amid the Hoosiers’ historic turnaround.

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But when Cuban cuts checks for IU, he told SiriusXM College Sports Radio he doesn’t ask for much in return. Simply, he just wants one thing: to win.

“I just say the same thing all the time. … I just say, ‘Win, motherf—ers,’” Cuban said ahead of Friday’s Peach Bowl. “That’s it.”

Indiana has certainly done that this year. The Hoosiers improved to 15-0 with the Peach Bowl win over Oregon, which they dominated from the start. IU forced three turnovers from Dante Moore, including a pick-six on the first play of the game, en route to the 56-22 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That sent Indiana to the national title game, where Miami will await Jan. 19.

Mark Cuban: ‘I’m the luckiest dude in the world’

Prior to Curt Cignetti’s arrival, Indiana was the losingest program in college football history and had never won 10 or more games in a season. But over the last two years, the Hoosiers are 26-2 with two College Football Playoff appearances – and they still have one more game to go.

For Mark Cuban and other alumni, it’s an opportunity to show out and support. The IU faithful seemingly took over Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Friday’s game, proving the power of having the largest alumni base in the country.

“Look, I’m the luckiest dude in the world,” Cuban said. “To be able to be in this situation – and I know they’ll be good to me and all that kind of stuff. I get the nice suite. I have to pay for it, but at least I get first crack at it. The reward is, when we win, every Hoosier fan everywhere – my buddies, my boys. I played rugby at IU, so all my teammates, a bunch of them are here. They flew in from all over.

“All my buddies that I grew up with, went to IU with, lived with in Dallas. They’re all here. They all flew down. Come on, now. You don’t live forever. These are the moments.”

The NCAA transfer portal is now in its final week for college football players to enter their names in search of a new school for the 2026 season. The portal officially opened on Jan. 2 and will close on Jan. 16.

More than 4,000 players from all different areas of the college football world have decided to transfer to new programs next season in the weeks after the 2025 season’s end. Much of the shuffling on the Power Four level involves the search for better NIL compensation or quicker paths to playing time.

One significant Power Four name on the move is former Missouri defensive end Damon Wilson II. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at his third school.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder began his college football journey with Kirby Smart at Georgia in 2023. Wilson used his redshirt that season, making two tackles to go with half a sack in the Bulldogs’ games against Florida and Ole Miss.

The Bulldogs featured Wilson in 12 of their 14 games in the 2024 season. He made 22 total tackles along with three sacks and a pair of forced fumbles, assisting Georgia in a run that featured an SEC Championship victory and College Football Playoff appearance.

Wilson transferred to Missouri in the 2025 offseason. In 12 games with the Tigers, he made 23 tackles and compiled a team-high nine sacks, a fumble recovery, two pass breakups and an interception.

247Sports and On3 consider Wilson a top 10 prospect and the consensus No. 2 defensive end in the 2026 portal cycle. Pete Nakos of On3 reported four different linkages between Wilson and Power Four schools on Saturday.

LSU

Lane Kiffin has established a reputation as one of the biggest users of the transfer portal in college football. So far, LSU has 18 commitments in Kiffin’s first portal class.

LSU has already made two acquisitions at defensive end from the SEC ranks in the portal cycle. Wilson would be the most proven addition to that position group should he commit to the Tigers out of the portal.

Miami

One of the most important tasks for the Hurricanes this offseason will be replacing a pair of dominant defensive ends, Reuben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. The run to the 2025 College Football Playoff national championship has reduced much of Miami’s portal activity to visits in the first week of the portal’s window.

If proximity to the hometown is important, Miami is the closest of the four schools to Wilson’s hometown of Venice, Florida. Though Venice and Miami are on different coasts of Florida, the drive takes a little more than 3 hours.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes are another College Football Playoff team seeking defensive end talent for its 2026 roster. With Caden Curry running out of eligibility and Beau Atkinson likely to head to the NFL draft, Ohio State is working the portal to find new options.

CJ Hicks is heading for USF, and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. will likely remain at Ohio State another season. The Buckeyes have yet to add a defensive end from the portal, despite adding players at other positions.

Texas Tech

The Red Raiders began scouring the NCAA transfer portal for talent the moment it opened. Some notable acquisitions include quarterback Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), defensive lineman Mateen Ibirogba (Wake Forest) and linebacker Austin Romaine (Kansas State).

If NIL compensation is a driving factor in Wilson’s decision, Texas Tech is a strong fit. However, the Red Raiders have already acquired defensive ends Adam Trick (Miami, OH), Amarie Fleming (Allen) and Trey White (San Diego State), so playing time could be more sparse for Wilson there.

Two of the biggest programs are college football got some transfer portal bad news as one of the top players in the portal reportedly made his commitment on Saturday. Neither Ohio State nor LSU will lack for talented football players in 2026, but one player each school had reportedly coveted is moving on.

Penn State transfer Chaz Coleman has reportedly made his commitment to Tennessee on Saturday morning. Coleman, who had been ranked as the No. 3 player in the portal by On3sports and the No. 5 player by 247sports, had long been linked to Ohio State as a recruiting favorite. On the other hand, LSU had received a recent visit from Coleman. But neither school was able to land him away from the Volunteers.

Coleman was a four-star recruit out of Ohio in the class of 2025. He took official visits to Kentucky, Penn State, and then Ohio State in the final days before the early signing period, but chose to sign with Penn State. The 6’4″ EDGE has bulked up to near 250 pounds, but saw little action in his season at Penn State, making eight tackles in nine games. He’ll have three years of remaining eligibility.

Favorites Come up Empty on Coleman

Ohio State had long been considered the favorite to sign Coleman. Pete Nakos of On3 tied Coleman to Ohio State early in the portal process. Coleman visited Ohio State last week and the vast majority of On3 prediction were for the Buckeyes.

LSU, on the other hand, was thought to be more of a last-minute option for Coleman. He visited Lane Kiffin and the Tigers first, before heading to Tennessee and OSU, and many thought LSU had positioned itself as a switch-over option from the Buckeyes.

Tennessee, on the other hand, has several former Penn State defensive coaching now on staff, with former coordinator Jim Knowles and co-coordinator Anthony Poindexter joining the Vol staff. Tennessee is clearly making good use of this connection, as Coleman is the third Penn State transfer that the Vols have snagged, with linebacker Amare Campbell and lineman Xavier Gilliam also on board.

The remaining EDGE market

The EDGE market is narrowing with the early commitment of John Henry Daley to Michigan and Coleman heading to Tennessee. LSU and Ohio State might move on to Missouri transfer Damon Wilson II. Oklahoma State’s Wendell Gregory could be another option there, although many are linking Gregory to Missouri at this time. The market on top EDGE talent is thinning out and two surprising teams came up empty on Chaz Coleman.

The transfer portal is really bringing out some of the wildest recruiting tools from college football programs.

For example, on Saturday, both UCF and Houston posted photos on social media aimed at players in the transfer portal to advertise there is “no state income tax” in either Florida or Texas.

It’s certainly a big, bold strategy for both programs to take with the portal deadline approaching on Jan. 16. They could use any advantage at their disposal right now as they try to keep pace with the rest of the Big 12.

BYU is the only program in the conference behind Houston and UCF in 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings.