Georgia Tech coach Brent Key makes it clear that Alberto Mendoza is the frontrunner to start at QB

Alberto Mendoza is the big favorite to be Georgia Tech’s Week 1 starting quarterback.

Yellow Jackets coach Brent Key wouldn’t go so far as to officially name the younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza his starting quarterback after Georgia Tech’s spring game on Saturday. But he made it obvious who would be under center barring any summer surprises.

“Who do you think it is?” Key said when asked by a reporter in his postgame news conference about the starting quarterback job.

Yeah, you’re right,” Key replied when that reporter said Mendoza’s name. “I can’t predict the future. That’s why those guys all got reps, right? We played a game today, he’d be the starting quarterback. Pretty simple.”

After praising the team’s other QBs, he then went on to compliment Mendoza.

“I’ve been very pleased with ‘Berto. Very pleased with his progression over the last two weeks,” Key said. “Not just as the trigger man, but his overall leadership, how he’s running the offense, managing the offense, how he’s settling into the role here. And very pleased with him and his development. Not just over the course of spring but especially over the last two weeks.”

Mendoza transferred to Georgia Tech just days after Indiana won the national championship over Miami in January. It was clear that he’d have serious competition for the starting job at Indiana in 2026 after the Hoosiers had signed former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover in the transfer portal as the College Football Playoff was unfolding.

He appeared in nine of the Hoosiers’ 16 games in 2025 as Indiana was regularly blowing out its opponents — even in the postseason. As his brother threw 41 TDs on the way to the Heisman and the (likely) No. 1 pick in Thursday night’s NFL Draft, Alberto was 28-of-24 passing for 286 yards and five touchdowns with one interception in his limited playing time while also rushing for 190 yards and a score.

Georgia Tech was an obvious destination with longtime starter Haynes King out of eligibility and backup quarterback following offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to . The Yellow Jackets went 9-4 in 2025 as they had their best season in nearly a decade.