With Alberto Mendoza taking over as Georgia Tech’s starting quarterback, college football fans may recognize his last name.
That is because Mendoza comes from a football family that already produced one of the biggest names in college football.
Yes, Alberto Mendoza is the younger brother of Fernando Mendoza.
The two quarterbacks even spent the 2025 season together at Indiana, where Fernando served as the Hoosiers’ starting quarterback and Alberto backed him up.
Now their careers have taken different paths, with Fernando moving on to the NFL and Alberto getting an opportunity to establish himself at Georgia Tech.
Here is everything to know about Alberto and Fernando Mendoza and their relationship.
Is Alberto Mendoza Fernando Mendoza’s Brother?
Yes. Alberto Mendoza and Fernando Mendoza are brothers.
Fernando is the older brother, while Alberto is the younger of the two quarterbacks.
The brothers grew up in Miami, Florida, and both attended Christopher Columbus High School before beginning their college football careers.
Their paths eventually brought them together at Indiana for the 2025 season.
Fernando transferred to Indiana from California, while Alberto was already a member of the Hoosiers’ quarterback room.
That gave the brothers the rare opportunity to play college football together at the same position.
Who Is Alberto Mendoza?
Alberto Mendoza is a college football quarterback who transferred from Indiana to Georgia Tech ahead of the 2026 season.
Mendoza originally joined Indiana in 2024 and spent much of his early college career developing behind more experienced quarterbacks.
During the 2025 season, he served as the backup to his older brother.
Despite receiving limited opportunities, Alberto showed promise when he got onto the field.
He completed 18 of 24 passes for 286 yards, five touchdowns and one interception during the season.
Following Indiana’s national championship run, Mendoza entered the transfer portal and eventually joined Georgia Tech.
The move gave him an opportunity to compete for a starting role following the departure of Haynes King.
Mendoza ultimately won Georgia Tech’s starting quarterback job for the 2026 season.
Who Is Fernando Mendoza?
Fernando Mendoza is Alberto Mendoza’s older brother and one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in recent college football history.
Fernando began his college career at California before transferring to Indiana.
He became the Hoosiers’ starting quarterback and emerged as one of the biggest stars in college football during the 2025 season.
Fernando won the 2025 Heisman Trophy and helped lead Indiana to a national championship.
His success dramatically increased his NFL Draft stock.
Fernando was subsequently selected No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft, beginning the next stage of his football career.
Did Alberto and Fernando Mendoza Play Together at Indiana?
Yes. Alberto and Fernando Mendoza were teammates at Indiana during the 2025 college football season.
Fernando was Indiana’s starting quarterback, while Alberto served as one of the quarterbacks behind him on the depth chart.
The arrangement created the unusual situation of two brothers playing the same position for one of the top teams in college football.
Fernando handled the overwhelming majority of Indiana’s meaningful quarterback snaps, but Alberto received opportunities during the season and produced five touchdown passes on just 24 attempts.
Their season together ended with Indiana winning the national championship.
Where Did Alberto and Fernando Mendoza Go to High School?
Both Alberto and Fernando Mendoza attended Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida.
The school has a strong football tradition and helped provide the foundation for both brothers’ quarterback careers.
Fernando eventually began his college career at California before transferring to Indiana.
Alberto took a different route by beginning his college career with the Hoosiers.
Their paths eventually converged when Fernando transferred to Indiana ahead of the 2025 season.
Why Did Alberto Mendoza Transfer to Georgia Tech?
Alberto Mendoza transferred to Georgia Tech following the 2025 season in search of a clearer opportunity to become a starting quarterback.
Fernando’s departure initially created an opening at Indiana, but the Hoosiers added experienced former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover.
That created additional competition for the starting job.
Georgia Tech, meanwhile, needed to replace veteran quarterback Haynes King.
Mendoza’s transfer gave him an opportunity to compete for that vacancy and begin building a college career separate from his older brother.
He ultimately earned the starting job for the Yellow Jackets.
Does Fernando Mendoza Have Another Brother?
Yes. Alberto and Fernando Mendoza also have a younger brother named Max Mendoza.
That makes Fernando the oldest of the three Mendoza brothers, followed by Alberto and Max.
Football has become a major part of the family’s story because of the success Fernando and Alberto have enjoyed at quarterback.
Alberto and Fernando Mendoza Continue Their Football Careers
The Mendoza brothers are now entering very different stages of their football careers.
Fernando has moved from college football to the NFL after a remarkable run at Indiana that included a Heisman Trophy, national championship and becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Alberto, meanwhile, has an opportunity to make a name for himself as Georgia Tech’s starting quarterback.
While Alberto Mendoza will inevitably be connected to his older brother Fernando Mendoza, his move to Georgia Tech gives him the chance to create his own identity as a starting quarterback.
For fans wondering whether Alberto Mendoza is related to Fernando Mendoza, the answer is yes: Alberto is Fernando’s younger brother, and the two were teammates and quarterbacks together at Indiana before their football careers went in different directions.