Fernando Mendoza Balances Graduation and NFL Career

Fernando Mendoza, selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, temporarily left his duties with the Las Vegas Raiders to participate in a graduation ceremony at the University of California. Mendoza had previously missed Indiana’s commencement but managed to return to Cal to turn his tassel during the school’s MBA commencement ceremony.

Mendoza had shifted his focus to his newly started NFL career, leading to him missing a visit to the White House earlier in May with his Hoosiers teammates. His decision to return to Cal was facilitated by Jenny Chatman, dean of the Haas School of Business, who allowed him to walk the stage for his undergraduate degree despite his absence during the previous week.

“We have one Haas undergraduate student who couldn’t make it to commencement on Wednesday. So, I hope you don’t mind I invited this person to our MBA commencement,” Chatman announced to those in attendance. “He used his Haas skills and coursework to negotiate an excellent job and an excellent comp package.”

The acknowledgment of his achievements prompted cheers as Mendoza, a Heisman Trophy winner and steadfast Cal Bear, accepted his degree in business administration and management with a smile.

While earning his degree, Mendoza was also enrolled in a master’s program at Indiana in 2025. During this period, he successfully led the Hoosiers to an undefeated season under head coach Curt Cignetti, culminating in a national championship victory in Miami against the Miami Hurricanes. This achievement solidified his status as a top quarterback prospect in the draft.

Mendoza’s current priority is his role at the Raiders. While veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to start initially, Mendoza is learning under the guidance of head coach Klint Kubiak. Kubiak has outlined plans for Mendoza to develop over time before assuming the starting position.

Partly due to his commitment to the Raiders, Mendoza declined the opportunity to join his Indiana teammates at the White House ceremony, a celebration of their national championship victory. During the event, President Donald Trump shared that Mendoza called to explain his absence, citing his new responsibilities with the Raiders as the reason he couldn’t attend.

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