Are Las Vegas Raiders owners Mark Davis and Tom Brady on site for Indiana’s national championship matchup with Miami to see Fernando Mendoza?
Davis, the majority owner, and Brady, the minority owner (and legendary former NFL quarterback), were on the sidelines for the No. 1 Hoosiers‘ game against No. 10 Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Monday, Jan. 19. The Raiders have the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Advertisement
REQUIRED READING: College Football Playoff national championship game, Indiana vs. Miami: Live updates, score, highlights today
Mendoza was the best player in college football this season, and has passed 3,349 yards with 41 touchdowns to six interceptions this season. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner has five incompletions to eight touchdowns in the College Football Playoff.
Brady, who was wearing a Raiders hoodie on the sideline, could be getting a close-up look of Las Vegas’ future quarterback.
Why are Mark Davis, Tom Brady at national championship game?
It’s unclear why the two Raiders owners are on site, but it’s likely to scout Mendoza, given the redshirt junior quarterback is the overwhelming favorite to be drafted No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Advertisement
Las Vegas needs a quarterback, as free-agent signing Geno Smith struggled in 2025, ranking 27th in the NFL with a 34.1 quarterback rating. Smith is also aging, as he turned 35 years old in October.
Fernando Mendoza NFL mock draft
Here are the latest mock draft projections for Mendoza:
USA TODAY Sports: First round, No. 1 overall to Las Vegas Raiders
USA TODAY Sports projects Mendoza to be selected No. 1 overall to the Raiders in April’s NFL draft. Here’s what USA TODAY said of Mendoza, who’s widely expected to be the top selection:
“A few weeks ago, he seemed to be the clear-cut front-runner to be the No. 1 pick,” USA TODAY Sports’ Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote Jan. 19. “At this point, it seems safe to say the rest of the race can be called off. Three months out from the first round kicking off, Mendoza is basically without competition for the top spot. The Raiders might not tip their hand and could even consider any exploratory talks other teams might have about obtaining the selection. But it seems unfathomable that Tom Brady and the rest of the Silver and Black brass would bypass such a sound signal-caller who checks off almost every box when it comes to operating within structure.”
Advertisement
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Will Las Vegas Raiders draft Fernando Mendoza? Mark Davis, Tom Brady at Indiana-Miami