MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium carries enormous stakes for Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who could become the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft just months after leading the Hoosiers to a perfect season.
The Las Vegas Raiders hold that top selection, and Mendoza is widely projected as the choice for a franchise desperate for a franchise quarterback. Raiders officials are expected to attend the game to watch Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner, face Miami — the program that didn’t offer him a scholarship out of high school.
Mendoza, a junior, has completed 73% of his passes for 3,349 yards with 41 touchdowns and six interceptions this season. He transferred from California to Indiana to play for coach Curt Cignetti, who has engineered one of the biggest turnarounds in college football history. The Hoosiers (15-0) can finish 16-0 with a win.
“All that stuff about the NFL, it’s a blessing, and the things that I see in articles. However, (Monday’s game) is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Mendoza said Saturday.
Mendoza grew up in Miami and attended Christopher Columbus High School, about 30 minutes from Hard Rock Stadium. His father, Fernando Sr., played offensive line at Columbus alongside current Miami coach Mario Cristobal. The Hurricanes made a substantial NIL offer when Mendoza entered the transfer portal, but he chose Indiana, where his younger brother Alberto is also a quarterback.
“He combines everything that you would want in an elite quarterback,” Cristobal said. “He’s ahead of the defense all the time. He’s two steps ahead. He understands the back end, the front. He’s extremely accurate, poised.”
Mendoza’s off-field character is also highly regarded. He has been off social media for some time, keeping only LinkedIn and YouTube on his phone. He dedicated his Heisman Trophy to his mother, Elsa, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis nearly two decades ago and uses a wheelchair. The Mendoza brothers have raised over $150,000 for the National MS Society.
“She’s the one who taught me how to throw a football,” Mendoza said. “She has always been by my side.”
Yahoo Sports analyst Jason Fitz, a lifelong Raiders fan, believes Mendoza can handle the pressure of being a top pick. “If you can handle (the Indiana turnaround), you can handle a Raiders turnaround,” Fitz said. “He’ll be ready for it.”
Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. Monday on ESPN. No. 1 seed Indiana is a 8½-point favorite over No. 10 seed Miami.
