Josh Pate Addresses the 'Multi-Million-Dollar-Question' Entering 2026 College Football Season

Josh Pate opined on this college football offense's ability to stay afloat with a new quarterback.

Indiana's Josh Hoover (10) during Indiana University's football camp practice on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Replacing a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback is a challenging task for the college football programs lucky enough to boast them.

Oklahoma's run of signal-callers under Lincoln Riley is the only time a program hasn't experienced a noticeable drop-off in quarterback play following a Heisman's departure in the last decade. Louisville, LSU, Alabama and USC all took major steps back in each of the years after their Heisman Trophy winners left.

Indiana attempts to avoid that regression in 2026 with TCU transfer Josh Hoover. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder was extremely productive in nearly three seasons as the Horned Frogs' starter, throwing for a combined 9,629 yards, 71 touchdowns and 33 interceptions.

Hoover replaces Fernando Mendoza, who started almost three seasons between his time at California and Indiana. Mendoza threw for 41 touchdowns in his Heisman campaign, and the most Hoover threw for in a single season at TCU was 29.

Curt Cignetti believes Hoover is a capable replacement for Mendoza

Keeping the ball out of harm's way was not Hoover's strength at TCU. He threw more than 10 interceptions in each of his last two seasons as the Horned Frogs' starter, and he threw nine interceptions in eight games his first season as a starter.

College football analyst Josh Pate highlighted the interception woes in his recent appearance on "The Jim Rome Show," calling Hoover's capability to pick up where Mendoza left off the "multimillion-dollar question." Pate said the issue ultimately boiled down to Hoover possessing too much responsibility, which is not a concern for Indiana.

"I talked to Cig in the spring, and he has that usual smirk on his face, and he's like 'we like what we got there.'" Pate said. "Translation: we're not going to ask him to do what TCU asked him to do, firstly, and secondly, we feel pretty good about the topsoil that we're going to plant that seed in."

Can Hoover deliver in crunch time?

Oct 26, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover (10) throws a pass against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Pate also highlighted Mendoza's performances in close victories against Penn State, Ohio State and Miami last season as deciding factors for the Hoosiers in their national title run.

Most of TCU's wins with Hoover at quarterback were more dominant ones, but he showcased his late-game poise in a pair of tight victories in 2024. The Horned Frogs opened that season with a 34-27 win at Stanford, a game in which they scored a pair of touchdowns in the final four minutes to secure the victory.

Later that year, TCU over came a 13-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Texas Tech 35-34. Hoover uncorked a pair of passes that were in the air for over 20 yards, the latter of which into an 84-yard touchdown run to take the lead.