Fernando Mendoza declares for 2026 NFL Draft after historic heisman season

Fernando Mendoza has officially moved on to the next big thing in his career as a football player. The Indiana quarterback announced on Friday that he is declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft. The decision comes just days after leading the Hoosiers to a national championship.

Mendoza’s announcement was widely expected, but it still marked the end of a remarkable chapter in Indiana football.

A season that changed Indiana football

Mendoza guided Indiana to a perfect 16-0 record, the first unbeaten season in the program’s history. The Hoosiers went on to defeat Miami in the national championship game, with Mendoza scoring the game-winning rushing touchdown on a dramatic fourth-down play.



The numbers reveal that he was in charge. Mendoza threw for more than 3,500 yards, had 41 throwing touchdowns and only six interceptions, and completed 72% of his passes. He also ran for seven touchdowns, which shows that he can destroy defenses both in the air and on the ground.

His calm decision-making, accuracy, and leadership turned Indiana into a national powerhouse almost overnight.

Mendoza’s Heisman Trophy win was the crowning achievement of his college career. He became only the third quarterback in history to win the Heisman and a national title in the same season before entering the NFL Draft, joining Cam Newton and Joe Burrow.



After the title game, Mendoza spoke about the winning play with honesty and emotion, explaining how he decided to run the ball himself when the defense showed a mixed look.

Raiders loom as top destination

With the Las Vegas Raiders holding the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Mendoza is widely seen as the favourite to be selected first. The Raiders struggled badly in 2025, finishing 3-14, and their need for a franchise quarterback is clear.



Former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is no longer in charge, and the future of Geno Smith in Las Vegas remains uncertain. Drafting Mendoza would give the franchise a fresh start and a long-term answer at the most important position. Several analysts have already called him the clear top quarterback in the class.

He announced his decision in a heartfelt video thanking his family, teammates and coaches for believing in him. In a lighter moment, he joked that his LinkedIn status is now “open to work,” a line that quickly went viral on social media.

For Indiana fans, it is a goodbye and for the NFL it is the arrival of one of the most exciting young quarterbacks in years.



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