Fernando Mendoza Celebrates Graduation Amid NFL Debut

Fernando Mendoza, the first overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, was probably looking forward to showing off his accomplishments during a graduation ceremony this weekend. However, it didn’t unfold as one might expect in Indiana; he found himself back in California instead.

Mendoza, who prioritized his commitment to the Las Vegas Raiders over a recent White House visit with his Indiana teammates, opted out of his undergraduate ceremony last Wednesday. Instead, he attended the MBA graduation at the University of California on Saturday.

While he didn’t want to miss out on the moment with his Raiders teammates again, Jenny Chatman, the dean of the UC Haas School of Business, allowed him to take the stage despite his absence earlier. She shared her surprise at having Mendoza there to receive his degree.

During her remarks, Chatman noted, “There’s one Haas undergraduate who couldn’t make it to graduation on Wednesday, so I hope you don’t mind that I invited him to your MBA graduation. He had a pretty good excuse for missing it—his remarkable skills helped him secure a fantastic job and compensation package.” She continued, “But he couldn’t change his start date with the new job, so let’s welcome Fernando Mendoza, a Las Vegas Raider, Heisman Trophy winner, Haas alum, and forever a Cal Bear.”

The audience erupted in cheers as Mendoza accepted his Business Administration degree, wearing his trademark smile. He completed his degree in 2025 while also enrolled in a master’s program at Indiana University.

Balancing two demanding academic tracks, Mendoza led the Hoosiers to an impressive undefeated season under coach Curt Cinetti, culminating in a national title against the Miami Hurricanes in their home city. It was during this remarkable season that he emerged as the top quarterback prospect. The Raiders, desperate for a new quarterback, did not hesitate in selecting him first overall last month.

Mendoza’s focus now is on how he can contribute to his new team. Veteran Kirk Cousins is part of the quarterback roster in Las Vegas, and new head coach Clint Kubiak has suggested an ideal scenario where Cousins starts while Mendoza learns from him before stepping into the starting role himself.

Interestingly, Mendoza mentioned he wouldn’t be attending the White House ceremony celebrating his championship win due to his focus on the Raiders. President Trump revealed that he had a conversation with Mendoza, explaining his absence.

During the event, Trump mentioned, “He called me to explain why he could not be here. If there was any other reason—if he didn’t like Trump—I wouldn’t have brought him up. But I do like him—he’s a fan of what we’re doing. He couldn’t be here today because he’s currently a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, and I wish him all the best.”