Story by
Fernando Mendoza’s Raiders hype heats up amid Rose Bowl
- Story by
- Fernando Mendoza’s Raiders hype heats up amid Rose Bowl
Fernando Mendoza's Raiders hype heats up amid Rose Bowl appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Indiana football looked like the Alabama teams of old inside the Rose Bowl. Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers shredded the Crimson Tide out the gate in the first half — and likely drew the attention of Las Vegas Raiders fans.
Advertisement
Mendoza only endured two incompletions but fired three touchdown passes in the 38-3 trouncing at Pasadena. The Heisman Trophy winner stuck the dagger in during the third quarter in hitting this 24-yarder to Elijah Sarratt .
Mendoza was surgical against the juggernaut known as Alabama. Mendoza's IU turned to familiar Tide blueprints — trench bullying, forcing turnovers and efficient QB play — to create the rout.
And created enthusiastic Raider fans in the process.
Raiders fan reactions in watching Indiana's Fernando Mendoza
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Members of Raider Nation manifested Mendoza wearing the Silver and Black right away.
Advertisement
"With the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, The Las Vegas Raiders select Fernando Mendoza, quarterback, Indiana," one fan posted on the social media website X, formerly Twitter.
One Raider fan even put together this graphic.
Another fan went a step further — photoshopping Mendoza in the Raiders colors.
Even non-Raider fans chimed in — a la Underdog Fantasy.
Las Vegas looks quarterback needy heading into 2026. Geno Smith has one year left on his contract, yet the franchise can release him to clear cap room. Smith's dismal 2025 season points to separation after one year.
The Raiders even lost '25 sixth round draft pick Cam Miller , who got picked up by the Miami Dolphins during the Rose Bowl contest. Miller's departure points to the franchise secretly making room already for Mendoza.
Advertisement
Indiana and its star QB now has a rematch with Oregon in the Peach Bowl inside Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta .
Related: Ole Miss football's Lucas Carneiro makes Sugar Bowl history with bonkers FG
Related: Alabama Crimson Tide HC Kalen DeBoer gets real about Ty Simpson after QB's injury
