Fernando Mendoza Says He’s a Better QB Than He Was 3 Weeks ago

Cal’s redshirt freshman quarterback is scheduled to get his third career start against No. 24 USC

Young quarterbacks are expected to improve with playing time, and redshirt freshman Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza says he’s a different quarterback heading into Saturday’s home game against 24th-ranked USC than he was while preparing for his first start three weeks ago against Oregon State.

“I would say that I’m an entirely different quarterback,” Mendoza said, “as I have gained a ton of experience, playing against two of the top defenses in the Pac-12, with Oregon State and Utah. I’ve seen my development expedite and in a sense fast-forwarded so I feel a lot more comfortable going into this game than the Oregon State game.”

Getting used the process of being the No. 1 quarterback and the routine and time demands involved are factors as well, he said.

With his play against the Beavers and Utes, Mendoza established himself as Cal’s starting quarterback for 2023, but he has yet to demonstrate he can win games against elite Pac-12 opponents. He is 0-2 as a starter, and Cal has slipped to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Pac-12 heading into Saturday afternoon's game against USC (6-2, 4-1 Pac-12).

“We didn’t win those games, so I was not up to par,” he said.

As he noted, Mendoza faced two talented teams, both of whom are nationally ranked and excel on defense, in his first two collegiate starts. This week he faces a third straight ranked opponent in 24th-ranked USC and the following week he will go against a fourth consecutive top-25 opponent in No. 8 Oregon on the road.

Is facing this level of competition right away the best way to develop a young quarterback? 

Mendoza says “yes.”

“Everyone always wants to – especially with young quarterbacks – they want to ease them in by giving them reps, garbage-time reps and then getting them into lower-competition games, and then putting them into the fire,” Mendoza said. “However, I think the best way to develop someone is to push them into the fire. For me that’s the case. I believe it was great to be pushed in against two of those top defenses, Oregon State and Utah, to then go against two more ranked opponents, USC and Oregon.”

Cal offensive coordinator Jake Spavital has few complaints.

“I think Fernando has handled the circumstances pretty well,” Spavital said. “I think he’s really good at the second and third reads, which is an elements that [had] been missing over the first five games.”

Spavital likes the optimism and energy Mendoza brings to the team, but he wants Mendoza to cut down on turnovers. He threw an interception in each of his two starts.

Mendoza will be expected to put up a lot of points against USC – partly because the Trojans score so many points and partly because USC gives up so many points. The Trojans rank third in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 45.4 points per game, but they rank 105th in the nation in scoring defense, yielding 30.5 points per contest. USC has given more than 33 points in each of its past four games.

However, Mendoza points out that although USC has yielded some explosive plays to opposing offenses, it has also produced some explosive defense plays in the form of sacks and tackles for loss. USC has recorded 23 sacks and 64 tackles for loss, the latter number being just one TFL behind the national leader.

And for the first time, Mendoza will be matched against one of the nation’s elite quarterbacks. USC’s Caleb Williams won the Heisman Trophy last year, and this season he ranks second in the nation in touchdown passes, with 23, and fourth in passer rating. The next week, Mendoza will be matched against another Heisman candidate, Oregon’s Bo Nix.

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