Despite heading into March Madness, it is still Fernando Mendoza’s football career making headline news.
Monday, Mendoza was honored with the Davey O’Brien Award for being the nation’s top college quarterback, leading the Indiana Hoosiers to a national championship–throwing for 3,535 yards and 48 total touchdowns, as reported by the Indy Star. “It’s been a whirlwind. I think now it’s finally settled in and the dust has started to settle,” Mendoza shared at that event. “The national championship, and then boom, next thing you know you’re on a new chapter.”
What that new chapter includes will be revealed in April, when the 2026 NFL draft picks kick off. Mendoza is considered to be the top quarterback in his draft class, making him a first-round pick. Most projections see him going to the Las Vegas Raiders. “The redshirt junior is the heavy favorite to go No. 1 in April to the Las Vegas Raiders,” reports ESPN. “At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Mendoza has excellent traits. He is clear QB1 on draft boards for Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Steve Muench, Jordan Reid and Field Yates.”
Even as the confetti was still being swept up at Hard Rock Stadium after the Jan. 19 championship game, Mendoza officially declared his name for the 2026 NFL draft. According to Sports Illustrated, despite his remaining college eligibility, Mendoza wanted to “dream bigger” and take the “next step” in his career.
Fernando Mendoza began his college football career by committing to University of California Berkeley (Cal) Golden Bears on Feb. 1, 2022. He redshirted in 2022, made his starting debut for Cal in 2023, and transferred to Indiana for the 2025 season. “The reason why Mendoza transferred to Indiana is so he can develop into a ‘pro ready’ NFL quarterback under coach Curt Cignetti’s system which is going to aim and maximize Mendoza’s professional potential,” SI states. And, college players have the portal system to thank for opening this strategic way to maneuver through their athletic careers.
While creating program-building issues at the college level, the portal system is an attractive addition to the NFL feeder system. Coach Travon Curry understands both sides of that line. Yet, he values other aspects of the game more highly. “Football has been a part of my life since I was about 8 years old,” he states. “After playing it in high school and in college, it helped me understand the life lessons that the game of football provides.” Continuing, he adds, “I love the team aspect of it and the brotherhood that is built within football.” So, how does Curry think that the Hoosier Heisman Trophy winner will do moving forward? “I think Mendoza will be a good fit with the Las Vegas Raiders,” he predicts. “He is a natural leader on the field and throws the ball with pinpoint accuracy.”
Dynasty Nerds is also optimistic about what Mendoza can do for the Raiders. “Adding a player closer to the timeline of [Brock] Bowers, Jack Bech, and Dont’e Thornton would be a strong first step towards the Raiders becoming relevant on offense again–mixing in with Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love and whichever WR between Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate, and Jordan Tyson is drafted first,” the publication writes.
So, where does that leave IU? Just as Mendoza has taken advantage of the portal system, so will the coaches themselves. The Hoosiers will use it to secure another talented quarterback to replace Mendoza–and hopefully lead the team in back-to-back national championships. Coach Cignetti has his sights set on Josh Hoover, TCU’s current quarterback. Hoover threw for 9,629 yards and 71 touchdowns over 36 games.
Other portal contenders include Wisconsin transfer Joe Brunner, Michigan State’s Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker, Boston College’s Turbo Richard, Kansas State’s Tobi Osunsanmi, and Notre Dame’s Joshua Burnham. This is in addition to key returning IU players: Lee Beebe, Carter Smith, Drew Evans, Bray Lynch, Amare Ferrell, and Tyrique Tucker.
And, no, college football has not lost sight of its high school recruits. “Indiana has secured a top-30 nationally ranked high school recruiting class (roughly 28th-30th) with a strong emphasis on defensive depth, featuring four-star prospects like defensive linemen Cameron McHaney and Gabriel Hill,” sources say.
The face of college football is definitely changing, but as players and coaches become more skilled in how to work the portal system, the system might actually work for them!
