Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza capped his championship season, solidifying his status as the top draft pick for the Raiders.
Las Vegas Raiders fans got a glimpse into their future on Monday night after watching Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza lead his team to the College Football Championship after beating the University of Miami 27-21.
Mendoza has been viewed as the first overall pick in this year’s draft for a while now, and his championship-winning season all but confirms his place at the top of everybody’s draft boards. Luckily for Las Vegas, they’ll be selecting first in April – if they want him, he’ll be there.
It’s hard to imagine a world where the Raiders don’t want Mendoza, considering their disastrous quarterback play last season and the need for a new life to be brought into the franchise. Mendoza can come into Las Vegas and join running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers as part of an extremely talented young core that can bring the Raiders back to a competitive football team.
Mendoza didn’t quite have his most impressive game of the season on Monday, but he remained cool under the biggest lights in college football and led his team to victory. He finished the game with 16 completions for 186 yards on 27 attempts. He didn’t record a passing touchdown, but he did run one in for a score on a defining fourth-down play in the final quarter of action.
Ending his Heisman-winning season with a national championship was more than deserved for Mendoza. In 2025, Mendoza threw for over 3,500 yards and 41 touchdowns for the Hoosiers, leading them to an undefeated season. His rise to stardom was unexpected after transferring from the University of California, but Mendoza isn’t ready to stop his ascension any time soon.
The Raiders have a need for a QB who can serve as the face of the franchise for years to come. Geno Smith didn’t cut it for Las Vegas last year, leading the league in interceptions. Despite his experience and having his buddy Pete Carroll as the head coach, Smith wasn't able to make a difference for the Raiders.
While Carroll has already been let go, Smith’s time should be coming to an end, too. He’s still under contract for two more seasons, but even if the front office doesn't move on from him, he needs to make way for Mendoza and his winning ways.
The Raiders held an interview for their head coaching vacancy on Monday and have two more scheduled for Tuesday. Their new head coach could even be announced as early as sometime this week. With Mendoza’s storybook ending to his collegiate career on his way to being the first overall selection and the Raiders making significant progress in their head coaching search, the importance of this week of the offseason should not be forgotten.