2026 Indiana Football Position Preview: Quarterback
2026 Indiana Football Position Preview: Quarterback
Indiana lost one of the greatest quarterbacks in college football history. Can Josh Hoover be the next great Hoosier quarterback - even if he's not Fernando Mendoza?TJ Inman|
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Indiana HoosiersThe duo of Curt Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan has proven time and again that they will get the best from their quarterback.
But as good as the Hoosier coaching is and should continue to be, no one is easily replacing what Fernando Mendoza brought to the program last year.
So who's next at quarterback for the Hoosiers and how does the position shape up going into the season?
The Indiana Quarterback Situation After the Fernando Mendoza Era
After deciding that Alberto Mendoza was not quite ready to lead the attack as a starter, IU went to the transfer portal and landed TCU transfer Josh Hoover.
The nation’s current active leader in passing yards will be Indiana’s third-straight quarterback starter from the portal, following in the large footprints of Kurtis Rourke and Heisman Trophy winner Mendoza.
Quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri is back in Bloomington after a one-year pitstop in Pasadena, and expectations are high after a 16-0 season with Mendoza producing at the highest of levels.
Josh Hoover: A Great Fit With Flaws to Fix
Hoover is a redshirt senior, finishing his collegiate career in the same place he nearly started it.
Way back in 2022, Hoover was committed to Tom Allen’s Indiana program before reconsidering and landing with Sonny Dykes at TCU. He was fantastic in Fort Worth, throwing for more than 9600 yards and amassing 71 touchdowns.
Beyond the obvious counting stats, there are enticing traits and characteristics that make him a great fit for Indiana’s offense.
First, Josh Hoover is fantastic as an RPO quarterback. The only quarterback in 2025 who was more efficient in “Run Pass Option” style plays than Hoover was Fernando Mendoza. That should help him feel very comfortable and confident in IU’s system.
Beyond his excellence on the move, Hoover has the ability to make big-time back-shoulder throws that made Fernando Mendoza so big in clutch situations.
The redshirt senior recognizes the time for a back shoulder ball and tends to place the throw right where it needs to be.
Give him weapons, like Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker, and an offensive line that should be much better than the unit he had with the Horned Frogs, and you can see the ingredients for another potent attack.
Discuss the quarterback position and IU's upcoming 2026 season at Hoosier Huddle
There are some things for the triumvirate of Sunseri, Shanahan, and Cignetti to work with Hoover on if the offense is to remain at the same high-standard IU fans are now accustomed to.
Hoover is generously listed at 6-2, and his lack of height occasionally poses issues for him in the pocket.
He’s a bit shiftier than Fernando Mendoza, but it’s fair to say he lacks the straight-line speed the now Raiders QB exhibited once he took off on a scramble.
There's one big issue, though - the turnovers.
While at TCU, Hoover threw 33 interceptions and Pro Football Focus graded him with a turnover-worthy play rate of 4.4%.
That placed him 125th nationally. For context, Kurtis Rourke and Fernando Mendoza combined for only 11 interceptions in the past two seasons.
Improving his decision-making and processing of defenses is of paramount importance, as no team can overcome a quarterback who consistently puts the ball in danger.
Certainly, Cignetti is aware of the turnovers needing to be improved upon, but believes other factors will help aid Hoover.
When Josh (Hoover) got here, he met his two new best friends: a great defense and a really good run game.IU head coach Curt Cignetti
The Backup Battle: Experience versus Upside
As soon as Alberto Mendoza transferred to Georgia Tech, the position of QB2 became of interest.
Former Old Dominion starter Grant Wilson was granted a final season of eligibility, his seventh overall. That gives IU a stable and veteran presence with knowledge of the system and plenty of experience.
Wilson is battling with 6-5 redshirt freshman Tyler Cherry.
Cherry has a ton of talent, but he’s still recovering from a devastating leg injury that nearly cost him his football future.
The Center Grove High School product participated in the spring, and the coaches are likely hoping to utilize the second halves of early-season games to gauge how close he is to being able to take the reins of the offense in the 2027 season and beyond.
Proven Player + Proven System = Another Stellar QB Season
Cignetti and Shanahan have earned the benefit of the doubt.
No matter the issues or limitations their quarterbacks have entering a season, they end up producing all-league campaigns.
Hoover has better tools than most, and he’s already proven that he can produce at a high-level.
If Hoover can use this offseason to learn how to better take care of the ball, it’s very possible Indiana has yet another All-Big Ten quarterback leading the team back to the College Football Playoff.
Published 1 minute ago
TJ INMANTJ, a native of Indiana, is a lifelong IU fan and a 2010 graduate of the IU School of Journalism. He joined Hoosier Huddle in January 2015. TJ co-hosts the Hoosier Huddle podcast and is Hoosier Huddle's lead basketball writer. He currently resides in South Carolina with his wife and children.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
