The legend of Fernando Mendoza continues to grow in the world of football. The potential number one overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft added to his extensive college football resume last night when his Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Miami Hurricanes in the National Championship game by a score of 27-21.
Next for Mendoza comes the jump to the NFL, and with Tom Brady and the Las Vegas Raiders brass in the building to watch his championship-winning performance, a first overall selection has become all the more likely.
Fernando Mendoza Reacts As Tom Brady, Raiders Watch Title-Winning Performance
The Raiders secured the first overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft after finishing the season with an abysmal 3-14 record. But the light at the end of the tunnel is taking shape in the form of a Heisman Trophy silhouette for owner Mark Davis and his staff. Davis and Brady were in attendance to watch Mendoza and his team complete the perfect season and capture a national title, the first in Indiana University’s long history.
Mendoza was told post-game about Brady and company’s appearance at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Mendoza was surprised and appreciative upon learning of the Raiders contingent’s presence. “Oh, I did not see them, but I appreciate them coming.” Mendoza told a Las Vegas Journalist in the tunnel post-game.
Fernando Mendoza told me he did not know Mark Davis and Tom Brady were in attendance for the CFP national championship, but he appreciates that they came. #vegas #raidernation #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/PPTyxQUAUC
— Mick Akers (@mickakers) January 20, 2026
Mendoza completed the storybook season with the Hooisers with a National Championship victory. This comes just over a month after the quarterback took home the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first-ever Hoosier player to win the prestigious award.
There is no doubt that Brady and company were impressed by Mendoza’s ability to win a close game with everything on the line. Imagine their faces when the Hooisers quarterback ran a quarterback draw and dove for the end zone for what was the eventual game-winning touchdown on fourth and four late in the final quarter.
Mendoza finished the National Championship with a stat line of 186 passing yards and a rushing touchdown.
Davis and Brady are hoping Mendoza can jumpstart a new era of Raiders football in 2026 by improving a poor offensive unit. This past season, the Raiders finished the season with an OFFI score of 56.3 (F), a score that ranked 31st in the NFL, only ahead of the Cleveland Browns, according to PFSN’s metrics.
The Raiders, desperately in need of a franchise quarterback, are projected to select Mendoza first overall in PFSN’s latest mock draft. After a perfect season, including a Heisman Trophy and a National Championship, it would be hard to envision Brady not pushing the Raiders to select Mendoza with the first overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
