Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza Sends Clear Message To Raiders

Heisman Trophy winner and national champion discusses potentially being the No. 1 overall pick

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner and national champion, recently discussed his thoughts on potentially being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with the Las Vegas Raiders being the team most commonly linked to selecting him.

Why it matters

Mendoza is widely projected to be the top quarterback prospect in this year's draft class after leading Indiana to its first national championship. His comments provide insight into his mindset as he prepares to make the jump to the NFL.

The details

Mendoza was recently awarded the Davey O'Brien Award, given annually to the nation's top quarterback, adding to his Heisman Trophy and national championship ring. While he acknowledged that his college career is behind him, Mendoza said he would be "blessed and honored" to play for the Raiders or any NFL team that drafts him. However, new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak gave a somewhat skeptical response when asked about Mendoza, saying the team has "a lot of work to do to get to know him" before the draft.

  • On February 16, 2026, Mendoza was awarded the Davey O'Brien Award.
  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23, 2026.

The players

Fernando Mendoza

The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Indiana University who led the Hoosiers to their first national championship.

Klint Kubiak

The new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, who previously served as an assistant coach for the Seattle Seahawks.

Las Vegas Raiders

The NFL team that is widely projected to select Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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What they’re saying

“I'd be blessed and honored to play for the Raiders, or I'd be blessed to play for any team. Any NFL team that drafts me, I'd be ecstatic. I know at the draft, I'll probably shed a tear or two just because it's such a full-circle moment for me.”

— Fernando Mendoza (Fox Sports)

“A really talented guy, with a bright future. We'll see where he ends, but we got a lot of work to do to get to know him before that time comes.”

— Klint Kubiak, Head Coach, Las Vegas Raiders (Heavy.com)

What’s next

Mendoza will participate in Indiana's pro day and attend the NFL Combine as part of his pre-draft process, where he will have additional opportunities to solidify his standing as the top quarterback prospect.

The takeaway

Mendoza's comments demonstrate his excitement and eagerness to make the jump to the NFL, but the skeptical response from new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak suggests that the team may not be fully sold on Mendoza as the No. 1 overall pick just yet, setting up an intriguing pre-draft process for the highly touted quarterback.