Why Fernando Mendoza might skip out on Indiana's White House visit
You might not see Fernando Mendoza at the White House with Donald Trump to celebrate their national championship win, but he has a good reason.
When the Indiana Hoosiers visit US President Donald Trump at the White House to celebrate their College Football Playoff National Championship win on May 11, star quarterback Fernando Mendoza might not be in attendance. But he's got a pretty good reason for missing the event. Mendoza, who helped lead the Hoosiers to their first-ever national championship with the win, was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders last month as the No.
1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. And it turns out that his new job might already have him booked on the day the Hoosiers are scheduled to meet with Trump. "I believe May 11 is the first day of OTAs, if I'm not mistaken," Mendoza said.
"If it is on the first day of OTAs, like I said, I'm on the bottom of the totem pole here. I've got to prove myself. I can't miss practice.
" Fernando Mendoza says he won't miss Raiders OTAs to attend the White House with Indiana. "I'm on the bottom of the totem pole here. I gotta prove myself.