When Fernando Mendoza opted to leave the University of California, Berkeley in search of a new home last offseason, he sought premier development to take his game to the next level — something he got with Indiana football.
After just one season with the Hoosiers, during which Mendoza set all sorts of records, he’s now headed to the NFL. Mendoza announced his intent to enter the upcoming NFL Draft via a nearly minute-long Instagram video Friday morning.
“With trust in my foundation and gratitude for every person that has helped me reach this moment, I am ready to take the next step,” Mendoza said in the video. “My LinkedIn status is now ‘Open to Work,’ and I am officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.”
Mendoza is widely viewed as the surefire No. 1 overall pick, which is held by the Las Vegas Raiders. The organization has yet to hire its new head coach after firing Pete Carroll.
During Indiana’s victory over the University of Miami in the College Football Playoff National Championship, the Raiders’ brass — consisting of majority owner Mark Davis, minority owner Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek — attended Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards, a program-record 41 touchdowns and just six interceptions in his lone season at Indiana. He also ran for 276 yards and seven scores, including his 12-yard touchdown rush in the national championship. Throughout the Hoosiers’ season, Mendoza performed at his best in crunch time, whether it was in regular-season victories over Oregon and Penn State or throughout the CFP run.
Mendoza became the first Hoosier to win the Heisman Trophy, taking home college football’s top individual award last December. He won a bevy of other awards, including the Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Maxwell Award.
The Miami native completed 74.6% of his passes throughout the Hoosiers’ CFP run, tossing eight touchdowns without any interceptions.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Mendoza earned high praise throughout his time in Bloomington from Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, who said Mendoza prepares unlike any other collegiate player he’d seen before.
Mendoza, who was born in Boston before moving to Miami, grew up idolizing Brady. Now, he appears to be Brady’s franchise quarterback in Las Vegas. The 2026 NFL Draft is set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
“Coming to Indiana was a leap of faith, a leap that led me to going 16-0 with my boys, a national championship,” Mendoza said, “and has now led me here, the moment where I get to dream bigger.”
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and columnist Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa and qmrichar@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
