Cal QB Fernando Mendoza is entering the transfer portal

Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza is entering the NCAA transfer portal, he announced on social media Wednesday.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound redshirt sophomore is expected to be one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in the portal. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Mendoza addressed his decision in a post on

pic.twitter.com/d4n5GooUqB

—Fernando Mendoza (@qb_fernando) December 11, 2024

Miami is expected to be in the market for a transfer quarterback after Heisman Trophy finalist Cam Ward leaves for the NFL, but Mendoza also has ties to Indiana. His younger brother Alberto is a freshman backup quarterback for the Hoosiers. Indiana is also expected to make a transfer to replace senior starter Kurtis Rourke.

Mendoza was the third-leading passer in the ACC this season with 3,004 yards on 68.7% passing, 18 total touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 11 games. He has made 19 starts over the last two seasons.

The Miami native was a three-star recruit in the 2022 class and initially committed to play in the Ivy League at Yale before Cal made a late offer. Mendoza redshirted in his first season with the program and has developed into one of the best young passers in college football.

That season, Mendoza threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-14 road win at Auburn and managed 285 passing yards and two touchdown passes in a 39-38 loss to then-No. 1-ranked Miami. In his final game with the Bears, he led a game-winning 98-yard touchdown drive in a 24-21 victory over rival Stanford.

Cal achieved a 6-6 record in its first season as a member of the ACC and will face No. 24 UNLV in the Art of Sport LA Bowl on Dec. 18.