Fernando Mendoza just enjoyed a phenomenal season with Indiana, and his draft stock is at an all-time high.
Let’s have a closer look at Mendoza’s incredible college career, his notable NIL deals, and his outlook for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Fernando Mendoza’s NIL Portfolio and Net Worth
Mendoza’s NIL valuation is estimated at around $2.6 million, placing him among the top five most valuable athletes in college football. His transfer from Cal to Indiana reportedly included a $2 million NIL package. His net worth could be estimated at around the same figure.
After leading Indiana to a phenomenal season, Mendoza’s market value increased heavily. He also capitalized on his Heisman season with the “HeisMendoza” branding. His endorsement deals span companies such as LinkedIn, Taco Bell, Adidas, Epic Games, Royal Canin, Keurig, T-Mobile, Axia Time, and Rent-A-Center.
Fernando Mendoza’s Journey to Indiana
Mendoza entered the transfer portal on Dec. 11, 2024, and committed to Indiana on Dec. 23. Curt Cignetti’s squad faced tough competition for the quarterback, who visited Georgia and Missouri, but a conversation with the Indiana head coach quickly made his choice clear.
“Indiana and coach Cignetti really sold me on becoming the best Fernando Mendoza possible,” Mendoza said on The Pat McAfee Show. “The transfer portal nowadays, it’s like speed dating, and there’s a couple of other blue bloods in the mix.”
Mendoza’s impact was immediate, as he led Indiana to a perfect 16-0 season in 2025, culminating in a national title win over Miami.
Mendoza’s College Stats & Career Milestones at Indiana
Mendoza started all 16 games for Indiana in the 2025 season, leading the FBS with 41 passing touchdowns, a 182.9 passing efficiency rating, and 288 points responsible for. He finished with 48 total touchdowns, the most in the nation, and ranked No. 2 among quarterbacks in the PFSN College Football QB Impact Metric with a 93.3 score.
Mendoza also made history as the only FBS quarterback since at least 1996 to post multiple games with at least 90% completion against Power 4 opponents. He also became the only quarterback to have six games with at least 4 touchdown passes and no interceptions.
“I cannot say enough about the job that he has done in terms of dedicating himself, you know, to the process of improvement,” Cignetti said about Mendoza. “He has come such a long way since we got him from Cal. But I still think that he has barely scratched the surface of his potential. I think that much of him. And he is a little bit new to the position, really, when you look at him and his background and growing up … he is very poised.
Mendoza ultimately went on to become Indiana’s first-ever Heisman Trophy winner and the first player from the Big Ten to win it since 2006 (Troy Smith, Ohio State). The 2025 season also saw him become the first Indiana quarterback to win both the Davey O’Brien Award and the Manning Award.
Mendoza’s College Stats at Cal
Mendoza started the first 11 games in his sophomore year at Cal in the 2024 season. He became just the ninth quarterback in school history to surpass 3,000 passing yards in a single season, finishing with 3,004 yards. He appeared in nine games and started eight in the 2023 season, earning Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honorable mention from conference coaches. His first college season in 2022 saw him redshirt, with no game appearances.
Mendoza’s NFL Draft Outlook
Mendoza is projected to be the likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. If he goes first, he will join Joe Burrow, Cam Newton, and Jameis Winston as the only players to win a Heisman Trophy, a national championship, and be selected No. 1 overall. Instead of attending the draft in Pittsburgh, Mendoza is expected to watch the event from Miami alongside family and friends.
