Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis and minority owner Tom Brady were in attendance at the National Championship, taking in the festivities during the pregame and likely scouting star quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is leading the Indiana Hoosiers.
The Raiders ended the season as the worst team in the NFL, earning the right to pick first in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza is set to enter the draft as the top quarterback prospect.
Just about every NFL Draft expert and scout has the Raiders taking Mendoza with the top pick, considering how badly the team needs a quarterback and the amazing season that Mendoza had with Indiana this year.
The Indiana Hoosiers played the Miami Hurricanes for the title, a blockbuster match-up between two physical teams. Mendoza faced an elite defensive front, giving Brady and Davis the perfect chance to see their future quarterback handle adversity.
The Raiders are in the middle of a total overhaul from the top down. Head coach Pete Carroll was fired this season due to his poor run of results, leaving a vacancy they are still trying to fill, alongside their search for a new franchise quarterback.
There are key building blocks at the franchise, from Brock Bowers to Ashton Jeanty, both of which will be key weapons for Mendoza if he does indeed get drafted by the Raiders.
How good is Fernando Mendoza?
Mendoza is a cerebral quarterback who can make most throws on the field, processing quickly and moving from read to read at a high pace.
Currently, he sits No. 1 overall on ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s big board.
“Mendoza transferred to Indiana after playing two seasons at Cal, and his game has taken off. The key? He has cut down on sacks, with 22 so far this season after taking 41 in 2024,” Kiper said.
“Mendoza is getting the ball out quicker. And while he doesn’t have a huge arm, he can make all the necessary NFL-level throws. His ball placement is fantastic. I wouldn’t consider him a dual threat, but Mendoza also has enough mobility to pick up first downs as a scrambler.”