Fernando Mendoza delivered a defining performance on Friday night and silenced any remaining doubts about his ability.
The Indiana quarterback led his team to a dominant 56 to 22 win over Oregon in the Peach Bowl. The victory sends Indiana to the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Mendoza was in full control from the opening drive. He showed accuracy, composure, and confidence throughout the game.
He completed 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards. He threw 5 touchdowns and did not record a single interception. He finished the night with more touchdown passes than incomplete throws.
That type of performance is rare at any level. For Mendoza, it has become a pattern.
During the 2025 season, he has now recorded 5 games where he threw more touchdowns than incompletions. According to Big Ten Network host Dave Revsine, no other college quarterback this century has done that more than twice.
Revsine described the feat as historic and pointed to Mendoza as a special talent at the position.
Mendoza also outplayed Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, further strengthening his standing among scouts. Many now view him as the top quarterback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft if he chooses to declare.
Mendoza has not yet announced his draft plans. A decision is expected after Indiana’s season comes to an end.
If he does enter the draft, league insiders believe the Las Vegas Raiders would strongly consider selecting him with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Raiders have struggled to find stability at quarterback for several seasons. The franchise is widely seen as needing a long term solution to move forward.
Whether Mendoza can become that answer remains unknown. If he declares for the 2026 draft, he is expected to get the chance to prove it.
