After 132 years of trials and tribulations, the Indiana Hoosiers finally claimed their crown. They became the first program to cap off a perfect 16-0 season since Yale in 1894. The Hoosiers won over the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 for the Natty in enemy territory at Hard Rock Stadium. And a lot of the credit goes to Fernando Mendoza. His heroics had NFL goat and one of the Las Vegas Raiders’ owners, Tom Brady, on his heels, literally and figuratively.

With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, Curt Cignetti took a gamble of a lifetime on fourth down instead of kicking a field goal. Mendoza rewarded that trust by sprinting 12 yards on a quarterback draw for the game-winning touchdown. He dived into the air in the final stretch, to the crowd’s disbelief.

Tom Brady was left totally stunned by what he saw. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler captured Tom Brady’s face on X with a caption that read: “Tom Approves.”

Brady’s reaction has everyone talking, especially since he has a stake in the Raiders. Watching from the sidelines, the GOAT couldn’t stop praising Mendoza’s performance and leadership. He mentioned that he “loves everything” about Mendoza’s playing style, and the young QB’s ability to manage pressure impressed him.

Las Vegas officially has the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. And after the season they just had, everyone knows they’re desperate for a franchise quarterback after watching Geno Smith throw 17 picks this season. Who else is better than Mendoza?

With this dub, Mendoza has essentially ended any debate about who should go first. 41 touchdowns a season screams NFL first-overall pick. He’s already won the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien awards, and now he has a National Championship ring to match his Heisman.

Oregon’s Dante Moore recently decided to stay in school after getting out-balled by Fernando Mendoza in the CFP semifinals. It’s safe to say that makes Mendoza the “last man standing” at the top of the draft board. Betting odds approve of this. Mendoza is now sitting as the clear frontrunner at -200 to be the first pick.

Along with Mendoza, a college football analyst is now calling for a package deal after watching Charlie Becker play.

Charlie Becker to the Raiders as the plus one for Fernando Mendoza

College football and NFL insider Nick Walters took it to X about the idea of drafting Charlie Becker as a go-to guy for the Raiders: “The #Raiders may want to think about drafting Charlie Becker to tie to Fernando Mendoza with this chemistry on display.”

Even the owner, Mark Davis, and Tom Brady were right there on the sidelines in Miami to watch this duo dismantle the Hurricanes’ defense in person. Strikingly, Mendoza and Becker have an uncanny psychic connection.

The Hoosiers’ #80 finished the night with four huge catches for 65 yards, but it was the timing that mattered most. In the fourth quarter, he hauled in a pair of clutch 19-yard receptions on critical third and fourth downs.

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Even if you go further, he has been clutch throughout the season. After stepping into a bigger role mid-season, he turned into a security blanket for the Hoosiers. The 6’4″ wideout started the year buried on the depth chart, mostly playing special teams. But he exploded onto the scene in late October after star receiver Elijah Sarratt went down with an injury.

Since his first start against UCLA, he’s been virtually unstoppable. The Nashville native accounted for 30 receptions for 614 yards and led the team with an insane 20.5 yards per catch.

Mendoza and Becker are actually roommates who spent their entire summer throwing together at 7:00 a.m. every Sunday. They are basically a bit lighter version of the Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase duo. However, Raiders fans will have to wait a bit longer to see this duo in the silver and black. Charlie Becker is not eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Because he is only a sophomore and just two years out of high school, NFL rules require him to stay in college for at least one more season before he can leap into the league in 2027. Yet, Mendoza’s play on the field will surely get the scouts looking to sign Becker as could be a bonus.