Fernando Mendoza, Indiana's Heisman-winning quarterback, was selected No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft. He led Indiana to its first Big Ten Championship and set multiple records during his single season at the university.
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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 19: QB Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers smiles on the trophy stage after the Indiana Hoosiers versus the Miami Hurricanes College Football Playoff National Championship Game Presented by AT&T on January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Indiana football and Curt Cignetti made even more history on Thursday night.
Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers’ Heisman Trophy winning national champion quarterback, was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft months after leading one of the most historically downtrodden programs in college football to the peak of the sport.
Mendoza spent just one season in Bloomington, completing 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and just six interceptions while adding 276 rushing yards and seven more touchdowns on the ground. His 41 passing touchdowns top Indiana’s single season passing list. He became the program’s first ever Heisman Trophy winner, led Indiana to its first Big Ten Championship in several decades, and is the first quarterback in over a century to go 16-0 across a single season.
The list of accomplishments Mendoza leaves behind in Bloomington is long and just got a bit longer. He’ll have a chance to add to that in the NFL.
Fernando Mendoza set the record for the most passing touchdowns in a single season at Indiana with 41 touchdowns.
Mendoza completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, with 41 touchdowns and only six interceptions, while also rushing for 276 yards and seven touchdowns.
Mendoza became Indiana's first Heisman Trophy winner, led the team to its first Big Ten Championship in decades, and finished the season with a perfect 16-0 record.
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