The Indiana Hoosiers are reloading for the future past Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.
The No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers are preparing for the most important game in program history as they face off against the No. 5 Oregon Ducks in the Peach Bowl on Friday, Jan. 9 in the College Football Playoff semifinals. However, the future is just as important as the present, with Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti already referencing in his CFP media teleconferences that he’s having to deal with hosting transfer portal targets on official visits the same week as prepping for that game and having to travel to Atlanta to play it.
Indiana walloped the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide 38-3 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinals led by a stellar performance from Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to enter the NFL draft after their CFP run ends. So, the Hoosiers need their next quarterback, and it appears they may have landed him.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that former TCU Horned Frogs signal caller Josh Hoover committed to Indiana on Sunday after visiting over the weekend. Hoover became the Horned Frogs’ starter in 2023 and set a school record with 3,949 passing yards in 2024. He ranked as No. 15 in ESPN’s portal rankings and was the No. 5 quarterback. Hoover has one year of eligibility remaining.
He finished the 2025 season completing 65.9 percent of his passes for 3,472 yards and 29 touchdowns to 13 interceptions, in addition to running in two scores. He will return as college football’s leading passer with a career 9,629 yards, and second with 71 touchdown passes. Hoover will enroll in January and is projected to succeed Mendoza.
In addition, ESPN reports that Indiana landed Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh in the transfer portal, former Boston College running back Turbo Richard. Marsh was ESPN’s No. 3 receiver and No. 12 player in their portal rankings and led the Spartans in receiving in consecutive seasons. Marsh had 100 receptions for 1,311 receiving yards and nine scores. Richard rushed for 749 yards and nine scores for the Eagles, and caught two touchdowns while averaging more than 5.0 yards per carry in both years at Boston College.
Sources also told ESPN that Kansas State edge Tobi Osunsanmi verbally committed to the Hoosiers. He’s viewed as one of the top pass rushers with 47 pressures and 8.5 career sacks.
It’s an overall impressive haul with a top need addressed at quarterback by Cignetti as he multitasks reloading for next season with preparation for a semifinal to reach the national title game.