Fernando Mendoza Declares for 2026 NFL Draft After Historic Season at Indiana
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is heading to the NFL, and he's doing so as a legend in Bloomington.
The announcement came Friday morning via a video on Mendoza’s Instagram, where he reflected on a whirlwind year that saw him go from transfer quarterback to national champion, Heisman winner, and now, top NFL Draft prospect.
“Coming to Indiana was a leap of faith,” Mendoza said in the video. “A leap that led me to go 16-0 with my boys and a national championship… I’m officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.”
It’s hard to overstate just how seismic Mendoza’s impact was in his lone season with the Hoosiers. In just 12 months on campus, he helped rewrite the program’s history books - and may have redefined what’s possible for Indiana football moving forward.
A Season for the Ages
Mendoza didn’t just win - he dominated. He led Indiana to a perfect 16-0 season, capped by a College Football Playoff title. His fourth-down touchdown dive in the national championship game against Miami will go down as one of the most iconic plays in school history - a moment that embodied the grit and belief that defined the Hoosiers’ run.
But it wasn’t just that one play. Mendoza made clutch throws and smart decisions all season long, elevating Indiana from a Big Ten hopeful to a national powerhouse. He became the first player in school history to win the Heisman Trophy, beating out a loaded field that included Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin.
Mendoza’s trophy case didn’t stop there. He also took home the Walter Camp Award, Maxwell Award, and Davey O’Brien Award - a clean sweep of the nation’s top quarterback honors. In the Big Ten, he was named Offensive Player of the Year and Quarterback of the Year.
By the Numbers
Mendoza’s stat line from the 2025 season reads like something out of a video game. He threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns while completing 72% of his passes. He added six rushing scores and finished with the highest quarterback rating in the nation at 182.9.
According to Pro Football Focus, Mendoza completed 29 passes of 20 yards or more, totaling 955 yards and 11 touchdowns on those deep shots. He was efficient, explosive, and remarkably poised - traits that have NFL scouts buzzing.
He came up just short of breaking Nate Sudfeld’s single-season passing yardage record at Indiana, but there’s no question who had the better season. Mendoza’s 2025 campaign wasn’t just statistically impressive - it was transformative.
Beyond the Field
What made Mendoza’s time in Bloomington even more special was the way he embraced the community. He wasn’t just a star on Saturdays; he was a visible, active presence in the city. From weekly dinners at local restaurants to charity work with the MS Society - a cause close to his heart because of his mother Elsa’s battle with the disease - Mendoza made it clear that he cared about more than just football.
That authenticity shone through in every interview, every viral moment, and every interaction with fans. He became a beloved figure in Bloomington not just for what he did, but for who he was.
Head coach Curt Cignetti summed it up best earlier this season:
“Fernando never ceases to amaze me. He’s so deep, so intelligent, such a good and caring, giving person,” Cignetti said.
“He’ll be a huge success in anything he decides to do one day when football ends. He’s just a special, unique person.
And it’s all real.”
What’s Next for Indiana?
With Mendoza officially headed to the NFL, Indiana has already lined up his successor. Former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover joined the program via the transfer portal and is expected to take over as QB1 in 2026.
There was a bit of intrigue around Mendoza’s younger brother, Alberto, but that door closed earlier this week when he entered the portal and committed to Georgia Tech. With that move, Indiana may need to dip back into the portal to find a veteran backup behind Hoover.
Looking Ahead
Mendoza’s declaration for the draft was expected - his stock has been rising steadily all season - but it still marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Indiana football history. In just one year, he turned the Hoosiers into national champions, became the face of college football, and left a legacy that will be remembered for generations.
Now, he sets his sights on the NFL, where teams will be lining up to land a quarterback with elite production, leadership, and poise beyond his years.
Indiana fans will remember the 2025 season forever - and at the heart of it all was No. 8, Fernando Mendoza.