Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza continued his fairytale season when he won the Heisman Trophy by a landslide on Saturday. Mendoza has led the No. 1 Hoosiers to an undefeated 13-0 season, including beating the Ohio State Buckeyes to win the Big Ten championship game.
Mendoza has led the Hoosiers to favorite status in the playoff, where they will commence their assault on the national championship in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, and PFSN’s College Football Playoff Meter predicts that Indiana has a 33% chance of reaching the championship game.
Analyst Reveals Fernando Mendoza’s Draft Assessment
During Wednesday’s segment of “The Herd” podcast, analyst Colin Cowherd revealed the prevailing perspective of Mendoza from an NFL coach while comparing him to Minnesota Vikings quarterback J. J. McCarthy.
“I think Mendoza is as good a prospect as you’re gonna get,” Cowherd said. “I talked to an NFL coach about it. I said that this person may need a quarterback but may not be able to get Mendoza, who’ll go No. 1. He won’t be able to move up. He said, ‘He’s also such an easy player to scout.’
“Because Indiana runs pro concepts. So, you will know, watching his college film, the throws he can and can’t make. This is a very good coach, who may draft a QB in the next three or four years, may not. The feeling on Mendoza compared to McCarthy is better traits, bigger arm, bigger guy, humble, easy to embrace and neat story.”
Like Mendoza, McCarthy also led the Michigan Wolverines to an undefeated regular season and Big Ten title, which culminated in a national championship win. He was picked No. 10 overall by the Vikings during the 2024 NFL Draft, and he signed a four-year, fully guaranteed $21.85 million rookie contract last year.
ESPN Guru High on Mendoza’s Draft Stock
Mendoza joined Indiana via the transfer portal after playing for the California Golden Bears for two seasons and immediately became one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten and the country.
In ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper’s latest draft big board, Mendoza is ranked at a lofty No. 2, just behind Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore. Kiper detailed the reasons why Mendoza has emerged as an elite prospect in the 2026 draft class.
“Mendoza transferred to Indiana after playing two seasons at Cal, and his game has taken off. The key? He has cut down on sacks, with only 18 so far this season after taking 41 in 2024. Mendoza is getting the ball out quicker,” Kiper detailed.
“And while he doesn’t have a huge arm, he can make all the necessary NFL-level throws. His ball placement is fantastic. I wouldn’t consider him a dual threat, but Mendoza also has enough mobility to pick up first downs as a scrambler.
Mendoza finished the regular season with 2,980 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and six interceptions, while adding 240 rushing yards and six touchdowns for coach Curt Cignetti’s national championship-contending Hoosiers.
