Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza admits ‘rough’ Indiana transition is aiding NFL jump

Fernando Mendoza led the Indiana football team during one of the most dominant college football seasons. The quarterback was under center while the Hoosiers went 16-0 and won the national championship, becoming the first team since Yale in 1894 with that many wins in a season.

Mendoza also threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns in what was one of the most dominant Heisman Trophy-winning performances in recent memory. However, Mendoza’s path to being drafted first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders wasn’t completely perfect.

The quarterback played two seasons at Cal, both of which were underwhelming, before transferring to Indiana ahead of last season. At Cal, Mendoza played behind a poor offensive line and didn’t look like much of a draft prospect, but the struggles early in his career helped prepare himself for life in the NFL.

“Having that experience of coming from Cal and then going to Indiana, and honestly having a really rough spring in Indiana, there was a big learning curve, to now with more experience and having dealt with that transition already, it has been smoother,” Mendoza said. “Learning a new offense, getting new information, learning new teammates, receivers, offensive linemen, and being able to take that experience and have a neutral mindset of where I’m learning, I’m growing, this isn’t the Super Bowl today. I’m trying to become the best version of myself so I can best serve my teammates down the road.”

Fernando Mendoza says that his experience in college, going from Cal to Indiana is helping him a TON as he navigates his current situation, playing in the NFL #Raiders @VinnyBonsignore | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/hp8RkxaJG5

— Raider Nation Radio (@RNR920AM) June 9, 2026

On top of learning a new offense and transitioning to a new league, Mendoza is also in a position where he is competing for the starting quarterback position. The Raiders paid Kirk Cousins to serve as a bridge quarterback, so the first overall pick isn’t being handed the keys to the offense right away. That is yet another hurdle he will have to navigate in his first season as a professional.

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