It's been widely expected that Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza would be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft for a while. Now it is official.
The Raiders selected Mendoza with the top overall pick in the draft on Thursday night, and it is a franchise-changing selection. Mendoza led Indiana to a perfect 16-0 season and a historic National Championship run last season, and his sensational play led to him becoming the first Heisman Trophy winner in Indiana football history.
Mendoza is known for his pin-point accuracy, strong athleticism, elite football IQ, and NFL-ready frame at 6'5" 230 pounds. He played his best under the brightest lights during Indiana's CFP title run, and he has all the intangibles needed to be successful in the NFL.
Mendoza's No. 1 overall selection is just the latest event to put the national spotlight on the Indiana football program, and it is historic for several reasons.
Quarterback trifecta: Heisman, National Championship, No. 1 pick
It's been quite the year for Mendoza. This past season, the Hoosier gunslinger won the Heisman Trophy, led Indiana to a national title, and has now been selected with the No. 1 overall selection in the NFL Draft. Not too shabby.
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Mendoza joins an elite group of 25 Heisman Trophy winners that went on to became No. 1 NFL Draft picks. He joins an even more exclusive club in players that completed the quarterback trifecta of winning the Heisman, winning a natty, and being the No. 1 overall pick all in the same year. Mendoza is the fourth quarterback to accomplish that feat, joining Angelo Bertelli (1943-44), Cam Newton (2010-11), and Joe Burrow (2019-20).
First No. 1 overall pick from Indiana in almost 90 years
Indiana's football history has not included a big number of top high draft picks. The Hoosiers have had just 14 players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in program history. Furthermore, Indiana hasn't had a first round draft pick in 31 years - until now. IU's last first rounder before Mendoza was WR Thomas Lewis, who went No. 24 overall to the New York Giants in 1994.
Mendoza is now the second Hoosier to be a No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. IU's only previous No. 1 selection came almost 90 years ago when Richard Corbett "Corby" Davis was the No. 1 pick by the Cleveland Rams back in 1938.
The wait is over, and Mendoza is now officially Vegas bound. He figures to compete for Las Vegas' Week 1 starting job with veteran QB Kirk Cousins, who was brought in as a free agent last month.
Mendoza figures to have a strong corner of QB mentors as he begins his NFL career, as Cousins has been in the league for 14 seasons and seven-time Super Bowl winner and NFL legend Tom Brady is a minority owner of the franchise. Indiana football fans are hoping Mendoza is the Week 1 starter, but no matter when he takes the field, Hoosier nation will be fully supporting him.
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