SI

Raiders Fans Fired Up by Fernando Mendoza’s Near-Perfect Start vs. Oregon in CFP

Mendoza had more touchdowns (three) than incompletions (one) in the first half.

Dan Lyons

Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza has Raiders fans fired up after his near-perfect first half against Oregon during College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza has Raiders fans fired up after his near-perfect first half against Oregon during College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl. / Kevin D. Liles/ Sports Illustrated
In this story:

Fernando Mendoza has been incredible for Indiana this year—that is no surprise. The Cal transfer won the Heisman Trophy and has the Hoosiers just six quarters from the first national championship in program history.

Mendoza is the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, a pick owned by the Raiders—a team that can certainly use a franchise quarterback after Geno Smith’s disappointing ‘25 season. Mendoza’s major rival for the top pick is the quarterback on the other sideline at Friday’s Peach Bowl, Oregon’s Dante Moore (though Moore has not made a public decision on declaring for the draft or returning to college). It makes sense that Las Vegas fans are tuned in to see what the future of their franchise may look like, and Mendoza has them pretty psyched.

Aided by an Indiana defense that has turned Moore over three times and set him up with short fields, Mendoza hasn’t had to do much, but he’s been about as close to perfect as it gets when he’s let it fly. Mendoza is 10-for-11 for 110 yards and three touchdowns, showing his incredible accuracy and ball placement throughout the first half.

Raiders fans didn’t have much to celebrate during a 3–14 season that saw former Super Bowl winner Pete Carroll get fired after just one season in Las Vegas, so they’re letting out some of that pent up enthusiasm as they watch Mendoza dice up the Ducks.

With Indiana up 35–7, the quarterback we may see most of in the second half is Mendoza—Alberto Mendoza, Fernando’s freshman brother who sits behind him on the Hoosiers depth chart.

Unless Moore and Oregon are able to shore up their failing protection up front and get some points on the board in a hurry, Mendoza will be good to start resting up for a national championship against Miami in Miami, his home town, on Jan. 19.

More College Football on Sports Illustrated

Listen to SI’s new college sports podcast, Others Receiving Votes, below or on Apple and Spotify. Watch the show on SI’s YouTube channel.

feed

Published
Dan Lyons
DAN LYONS

Dan Lyons is a staff writer and editor on Sports Illustrated's Breaking and Trending News team. He joined SI for his second stint in November 2024 after a stint as a senior college football writer at Athlon Sports, and a previous run with SI spanning multiple years as a writer and editor. Outside of sports, you can find Dan at an indie concert venue or movie theater.

Home/NFL