Fernando Mendoza is set to be in the NFL starting next season after declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy during the 2025 college football season and helped Indiana win its first national title in the football program’s history. He finished the season with 3,535 yards through the air, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
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He’s widely expected to be the top overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and according to 247Sports’ Jeff Rabjohns, Mendoza will attend the NFL Combine in February, but there have been no announcements about what events he will/won’t do.
The 2026 NFL Combine will take place from Feb. 23 to Mar. 2 in Indianapolis. It’s a chance for the top NFL Draft prospects to participate in drills and do interviews.
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (15) smiles on the podium after the College Football Playoff National Championship win over Miami.© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Rabjohns also reported that Mendoza will participate in Indiana’s Pro Day. He’ll do on-field work for NFL teams on Indiana’s campus.
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The 2025 college football season was Mendoza’s only season with Indiana after spending the first two seasons of his career at California. He finished his collegiate career with 8,247 yards through the air, 71 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions.
Indiana went undefeated during the regular season before beating Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Hoosiers then beat the Alabama Crimson Tide, Oregon Ducks, and Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff to win the national title.
The win against the Hurricanes capped off a 16-0 season for the Hoosiers.
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Related: Indiana Announces Fernando Mendoza Honor After College Football Season
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.