Reports: Alberto Mendoza entering transfer portal, strength and conditioning coach Derek Owings departing for Tennessee

Photos of IU football vs. UCLA football at Memorial Stadium on October 25, 2025.

Less than 12 hours removed from its national championship win against Miami (FL) on Monday night, IU football has a pair of holes to fill for next fall.

According to multiple reports, backup quarterback Alberto Mendoza, the brother of Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, is entering the transfer portal.

Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com reports that Georgia Tech is “among the early teams to watch” with Mendoza.

Alberto Mendoza threw for 286 passing yards and five touchdowns as IU’s backup in the 2025 season.

Indiana signed TCU quarterback Josh Hoover earlier this month to be the program’s starting quarterback next season.

In addition, strength and conditioning coach Derek Owings is leaving the program to take the same position on Josh Heupel’s staff at Tennessee, per multiple reports.

Zenitz reported that Owings, who turned down a job at USC last offseason, will become the sport’s highest-paid strength and conditioning coach at Tennessee and will earn $1.2 million.

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