Fernando Mendoza has his eyes locked on the Rose Bowl. The Indiana Hoosiers quarterback isn’t thinking about the NFL Draft, mock boards, or franchise fits-at least not publicly. Right now, it’s all about the Alabama Crimson Tide and the massive stage that awaits on New Year’s Day.
But while Mendoza is focused on the task at hand, the NFL chatter is already starting to heat up. ESPN analyst Greg McElroy stirred the pot this week by floating Mendoza’s name as a potential fit for a quarterback-needy team-specifically, the New York Giants.
“Right now, I would go with the upside that you get with Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza,” McElroy said, comparing the two to another draft-eligible quarterback, Jaxson Dart. “I think Jaxson Dart, at this point, is a really high-floor prospect.
You kind of know what you’re going to get. … But there’s mechanical inconsistencies that will not be fixed immediately.”
In McElroy’s view, Mendoza brings a higher ceiling-especially in a system like New York’s, where the quarterback position is very much in flux. “I like the upside of Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza better,” he added. “Because I feel like the long-term prospects of those guys being super elite in the NFL feels more likely than it does with Jaxson Dart.”
That’s high praise for a player still preparing for the biggest game of his college career.
Mendoza, for his part, isn’t biting on the draft talk just yet. He’s laser-focused on Alabama-and particularly on the quarterback across the field, Ty Simpson. Mendoza spoke with genuine admiration about Simpson’s leadership and presence, both on and off the field.
"I’ve seen him or heard about him for a long time now. He was one of the top guys,” Mendoza said Tuesday.
“Not only was he a great quarterback, he seemed like he was a great guy. And I think everyone he’s rubbed off on-whether it was his podcast with ‘Bussin with the Boys’-I’ve always seen his personality shine through.
And I think that’s why he’s such a great leader of that team. People see he’s authentic, he’s genuine, and they want to go behind him.
Also as a player, he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, no doubt about it.”
It’s a rare thing to hear one top-tier quarterback speak so openly and respectfully about another, especially ahead of a game with this much on the line. But that’s Mendoza-measured, mature, and fully aware of the moment.
The Rose Bowl is more than just a semifinal matchup. It’s a proving ground. And for Mendoza, it’s a chance to not only lead Indiana against one of the sport’s blue bloods, but also to show NFL scouts what kind of competitor he really is.
Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET on New Year’s Day. And while the draft buzz will continue to swirl, Mendoza’s focus is exactly where it should be-on making history in Pasadena.