There was never a doubt in his decision.

The Las Vegas Raiders are officially on the clock, and Fernando Mendoza might be falling into their hands. Mendoza is slated to be the first overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft after leading Indiana to its first-ever national championship.

However, he still hadn’t officially come out and state that he was going to the NFL. That changed this week. The Indiana quarterback declared for the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday morning.

“My LinkedIn status is now ‘Open to Work,’ and I’m officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, Mendoza said. His LinkedIn profile shows his updated picture and states, “Open to work.”

As for Indiana, they secured the replacement for Fernando Mendoza when they landed Josh Hoover. He has committed to play for the Hoosiers and is likely to start next season. With that decision, Indiana has found Mendoza’s successor after his National Title-winning year. Hoover threw for 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions while completing 65.9% of his passes in 2025.

Fernando Mendoza is Expected To Be Taken By The Raiders

Fernando Mendoza (Image Credits: Imagn)

It is no secret that the Raiders are in need of QB help. As a 5% minority owner approved in 2024, Tom Brady holds a vital role with the team. That is why it wasn’t shocking to see him on the sidelines for the National Championship game.

Mendoza finished the 2025 campaign by throwing for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns. That was en route to winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record. In the title game against Miami, Mendoza completed 16 of 27 attempts for 186 yards.

His biggest play was a critical fourth-and-5 where he ran for a 12-yard touchdown and threw his body into the end zone. Those are the type of plays that can turn a franchise around.

During his three-year college career, Fernando Mendoza completed 68.6% of his attempts for 8,247 yards. He also had a touchdown-interception ratio of 71 to 22.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.