What Mark Cuban just admitted about funding Fernando Mendoza has everyone talking

TL;DR

Mark Cuban recently acknowledged his past lack of financial support for Indiana athletics, revealing a shift in his stance on funding players like quarterback Fernando Mendoza. His admission has sparked widespread discussion about NIL funding in college sports.

Key points

Mark Cuban's net worth is estimated at $6 billion.
He previously gave nothing to Indiana athletics.
Cuban's admission came during a December playoff game.
Indiana's coaching staff is interested in quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
More NIL money is needed to secure Mendoza's recruitment.

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Fernando Mendoza

What Mark Cuban just admitted about funding Fernando Mendoza has everyone talking originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Mark Cuban holds an estimated net worth of roughly $6 billion. For decades, the Indiana graduate gave nothing to his school’s athletics. That long silence broke on one December night inside a football stadium.

Indiana lost to Notre Dame 27-17 in a December playoff game. From a suite, Cuban watched alongside athletic director Scott Dolson.

Dolson told Cuban about a quarterback who fit coach Curt Cignetti’s system. The coaching staff at Indiana already liked the player very much. The program simply needed more NIL money to close the deal.

“We have got this quarterback that we really, really like,” Cuban recalled Dolson saying during that suite conversation at the playoff game. “We just need a little bit more,” the athletic director explained.

Cuban asked Dolson to reveal the exact funding gap for the deal. Dolson told him the number right there on the spot. “I will put up the money to get this quarterback,” the billionaire replied.

That target was Fernando Mendoza from the California football program. The four-star transfer signed with Indiana on Christmas Eve in 2024. He reportedly signed a NIL deal worth $2.6 million.

Q&A

What did Mark Cuban admit about funding Indiana athletics?

Mark Cuban admitted that he previously provided no financial support to Indiana athletics but is now considering funding players like Fernando Mendoza.

Why is Mark Cuban's admission about Indiana athletics significant?

Cuban's admission is significant as it highlights a potential change in his approach to supporting college sports, particularly in the context of NIL funding.

Who is Fernando Mendoza and why is he important to Indiana athletics?

Fernando Mendoza is a quarterback that Indiana's coaching staff is interested in, and securing NIL funding is crucial for the program to recruit him.