​It’s another landmark achievement for Fernando Mendoza, the former Indiana University standout who now quarterbacks the Las Vegas Raiders. As the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft—the first Big Ten top pick since Orlando Pace went first in 1996—Mendoza has just been named the 2025-2026 Big Ten Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year. The Miami native becomes the sixth IU alum to win the Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year award, an honor that follows his role in guiding the Hoosiers to an unprecedented 16-0 regular season, a historic milestone not seen in college football since 1894. That perfect run stands as the first 16-0 season of the Football Bowl Subdivision era and culminated in Indiana capturing its first national title in football.
Even before taking a single NFL snap, Mendoza has a trophy case overflowing with hardware. Most notably, he captured the 2025 Heisman Trophy, making him the first Indiana player to win the award and the first Big Ten athlete to do so since Charles Woodson in 1997. Mendoza sits among a very elite club, joining a rarefied group of players who have achieved three remarkable feats: being drafted No. 1 overall, winning the Heisman, and leading a team to a national championship. The other members of this exclusive quartet are Joe Burrow (LSU, 2019), Jameis Winston (Florida State, 2013), and Cam Newton (Auburn, 2010).
As Mendoza prepares for training camp, he faces an uphill climb. The Raiders currently lean toward Kirk Cousins as their Week 1 starter, with Klint Kubiak’s intricate system presenting a learning curve for any rookie. Yet the numbers Mendoza posted in college speak for themselves. He led the nation in touchdown passes, in passing efficiency, and in total touchdowns accounted for. He logged a touchdown (whether via pass or rushing) in every game last season and threw at least one touchdown pass in 14 of 16 games. While Cousins may be the quarterback of the present, Mendoza is clearly the quarterback of the future. One of the franchise’s most persistent needs has been stability at the position. Since Derek Carr departed before the 2023 season, the Raiders have cycled through seven different opening-week starters, posting a disappointing 15-36 record over that span.
This is another chapter in Mendoza’s remarkable journey from college star to NFL prospect. His achievements at Indiana, capped by a Heisman, a national title, and a Jesse Owens Award, have elevated him into a rarefied tier of college athletes who have seamlessly translated extraordinary success to the professional stage. The Raiders are betting on a future cornerstone at quarterback, a player who could provide long-term stability after years of quarterback turnover and short-term fixes. As Mendoza steps onto the field in Las Vegas, fans are watching not just a rookie’s development, but the emergence of a potential franchise quarterback who could redefine the Raiders’ trajectory for years to come. This compelling arc, documented and celebrated in college circles and now in the NFL, signals that Mendoza’s impact will extend far beyond the accolades already earned.