Before getting drafted, Fernando Mendoza led the team that had one of the greatest single-season stories in college football history. He played a big role in Indiana’s journey to a 16-0 record, the program’s first Big Ten championship since 1967, and its first-ever national title. He won the Heisman Trophy and capped it all by being selected as the first overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Indiana’s championship team will visit the White House on May 11 to meet with Donald Trump. Head coach Curt Cignetti is expected to attend, and several former Hoosiers who were drafted, including Omar Cooper Jr., Elijah Sarratt, and D’Angelo Ponds, could make the visit, but Mendoza won’t be among them.
Fernando Mendoza Prioritizes Raiders’ OTAs Over White House Visit
The offseason program for the rookie has already started in the NFL, and Mendoza made it clear that missing time, even for a visit to the White House, isn’t something he’s willing to do.
“If it is on the first day of OTAs, like I said, I’m at the bottom of the totem pole here, I’ve got to prove myself, I can’t miss practice,” Mendoza said when asked about the visit. “As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look. I’m trying to best serve my teammates, and I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”
OTAs are a crucial window for a quarterback like Mendoza to learn a new system, especially as he transitions from college football to the West Coast scheme under head coach Klint Kubiak.
“As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look. I can’t miss practice.”
Raiders rookie QB Fernando Mendoza on visiting the White House with the Indiana Hoosiers.
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Mendoza worked with former NFL quarterback Brian Griese before the draft to get a head start on under-center concepts, but nothing can replace on-field reps with his new teammates.
The Raiders have been transparent about their plan. Kubiak and general manager John Spytek have indicated that they prefer not to start a rookie quarterback in Week 1, and veteran Kirk Cousins, who they signed in free agency, is expected to open the season as QB1.
Mendoza is the long-term answer for the Raiders, but he needs time to be ready to play in the NFL. As a result, his decision to skip the White House visit makes a lot of sense.
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In the final season of his college career, Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. He also rushed for 276 yards and 7 touchdowns in 16 games for Indiana.
According to PFSN’s CFB QB Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 93.3 last season, ranking second-best in the nation. Hopefully, the time he spends with the team in the offseason will prepare him to be ready for whenever his name gets called, depending on Cousins’ health and form.
