In a season full of gut punches for the football program, Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza delivers the final knockout blow declaring he will transfer out of the program.
Everything started so well this season that it seemed like a dream. Winning the first three games with a big upset in Auburn had every Cal fan thinking they hit a time machine back to 2004. Then, in typical Cal fashion, the football season went off the rails; and it’s only getting worse with the latest news.
Cal Football QB Fernando Mendoza Enters Transfer Portal
Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza has entered the transfer portal. Once the news broke that five-star prospect Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was decommitting from Cal to take his talents to Oregon, it seemed like Mendoza would be the guy for the next couple of seasons.
Yet during their game against SMU, a game Fernando sat out of due to an illness, the quarterback was still present on the sidelines with his teammates, which seemed odd. Weeks later, wide receiver Nyziah Hunter announced that he would transfer out. That’s when Cal fans started to get a not-so-good feeling in their stomach.
There was plenty of speculation about whether Fernando would stay considering he had a great season. The quarterback seemed to be a Golden Bear for life, but, in the new transfer portal era of college football, his talents were going to be highly coveted by bigger programs. Now we’re here, Fernando is no longer the Bears quarterback, and Cal has a lot of questions they need to answer going forward.
In-house Options for Cal
Cal still has one more game to play this season. On Wednesday, December 18, the Golden Bears will play the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels in the LA Bowl. Mendoza will not suit up for that game, and may already be committed to a new program by the time the game is played. That means that head coach Justin Wilcox has a tough task of figuring out who his quarterback will be for the bowl game.
It appears that redshirt sophomore CJ Harris and freshman EJ Camingong will more than likely be under center against UNLV. Harris, a transfer from Ohio University saw his first action of the season against SMU when Chandler Rogers went down with an injury. Meanwhile, Caminong has yet to see action this season. However, he was a nice pickup in recruiting last year when Cal was able to persuade him over the Washington Huskies.
Is one game a good enough sample size to see if one of these quarterbacks can be the starter going forward?
No, it’s not. However, Cal should use this game as a way to get them live reps. If one of them plays well, that’s good momentum to carry into the offseason and spark a little bit of hope in a fanbase that’s currently in a torture chamber.
Transfer Portal Options
If Cal feels that Harris or Camingong aren’t the answer going into next season, do not be surprised to see them throw money at a quarterback in the transfer portal. Coach Wilcox has done well in the portal the past couple of seasons, and he may need to hit it on the head once again.
That being said, Cal has a new offensive coordinator in Bryan Harsin, who is going to have a ton of input on their next quarterback. There are quite a few options in the transfer portal already that are without a home. These three quarterbacks could end up being a good fit for the Golden Bears.
Luke Kromenhoek – Florida State
This one might be a little far-fetched considering Luke Kromenhoek was the fourth overall quarterback in his class coming out of high school.
The freshman started to see the field towards the end of the season for Florida State, but certainly didn’t wow anyone with his play. What makes him so intriguing is his size and eligibility years.
Kromenhoek stands at 6-feet 4-inches and will have three years of eligibility remaining. The quarterback could command a decent amount of NIL money, but he may run out of options sooner rather than later. He should be at the top of Cal’s wish list, but I would be shocked if he became a Golden Bear.
Mikey Keene – Frenso State
Mikey Keene feels like the most realistic option for Cal. He’s played well the past two seasons as the Bulldogs starting quarterback. This season, Keene threw for 2,892 yards and 18 touchdowns. His touchdowns dropped off from his 2023 season, but the Junior can sling it.
Keene is right in the Bears’ backyard, and shouldn’t cost much in NIL money to obtain him. Playing at Cal would be a nice upgrade for him, too. It would also provide stability for the Bears in what could be another lame duck season next year.
Preston Stone – SMU
Preston Stone has a lot of upside. Just last season, he threw for 3,197 yards, 28 touchdowns, to only six interceptions. It looked like he would be the starter again this year, but he lost his job to a very good player in Kevin Jennings.
Stone, a junior, didn’t get much playing time this season. He also only has a year of eligibility left. The quarterback will want to transfer somewhere where he’s going to be the focal point of an offense, and could have a career revitalization in Berkeley. I’m not positive on how much NIL money he would command, but it can’t be out of Cal’s price range.
What’s Next?
One has to think that if Cal were to close out some of the tight ball games earlier in the season, they wouldn’t be in this predicament. Winning cures all, and the Bears haven’t done much winning lately. Ultimately, like every business or sports organization, it starts at the top. Many fans are displeased with the direction this program is headed with the latest transfer and coaching news.
First and foremost, Cal needs to see what they have in the two young quarterbacks on the roster before making any rash decisions. If one of them pans out, great. In that case, it allows for more money to spend elsewhere.
However, the quarterback position is the most important in football. And having Fernando Mendoza transfer out of Cal is a big loss to the program. It’s unfair to the fans in the day and age, especially ones that root for non-football powerhouses.
Should fans put any stock into a player if they’re good anymore considering that the player will more than likely move on? I don’t know, but it’s not (always) the player’s fault. At the very least, fans should be more appreciative of the players that want to be here.
We’re in very weird times with college football and something has to give soon. Cal is still fighting for relevance and the recent news has hurt the momentum the fanbase built this season. What’s to come is anybody’s guess, but the clock is ticking.
Cody Henderson
I root for teams that only let me down. Talking all things Las Vegas Raiders and Cal Bears football. Follow me on X where I post my dramatic takes.