Fernando Mendoza has skills well beyond football.

2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza will aim to put a finishing touch on a historic season when his Indiana Hoosiers take on the Miami Hurricanes in the national championship game.

Mendoza is already the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1 pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. That selection is owned by the Las Vegas Raiders. But first, Mendoza is focused on leading Indiana to its first-ever national football championship.

Before kickoff of the big game, Fernando Mendoza’s high school GPA resurfaced and went viral online. Mendoza attended Christopher Columbus High School in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and graduated in 2022.

Per Christopher Kamrani and Manny Navarro of The Athletic, Mendoza graduated from high school with a ridiculous 4.86 GPA.

“He was always focused on making sure that his schedule was rigorous,” Sylvie Galvez-Cuesta, the high school’s Mas Family Program Director, told The Athletic. “He didn’t want to be a dumb jock.”

The 22-year-old may be on the doorstep of professional football, yes. But Fernando Mendoza isn’t using money as an excuse to stop his educational studies. Mendoza is pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration at Indiana.

Fernando Mendoza’s Future Is Awfully Bright

Fernando Mendoza (Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
There was a debate between Mendoza and Oregon star Dante Moore as the top QB prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. But with Dante Moore committed to another season at Oregon, Mendoza is a shoo-in to go first overall now.

Former hot-shot QB prospects like Ryan Leaf, JaMarcus Russell and Johnny Manziel lacked the work ethic and selfless attitude to shine in the NFL. There are no guarantees in the pros, of course. But Mendoza’s high IQ and devotion to his studies should only help Vegas feel more comfortable in taking him first overall.

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.