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Indiana's Fernando Mendoza shares lessons from national championship win on LinkedIn
By Ryan Canfield
Published January 22, 2026
Indiana star quarterback Fernando Mendoza is not only a star on the field, but on LinkedIn, too.
LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that connects people for career development, job seeking, and recruiting. Mendoza posted on the platform what winning a College Football Playoff National Championship taught him about business-to-business sales.
"Here’s what winning a National Championship taught me about business-to-business sales (kidding … kinda)," Mendoza posted on LinkedIn.
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Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza celebrates after defeating the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Jan. 19, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
"1. Believe in yourself: Four years ago, I was a two-star recruit playing high school football 30 minutes from Hard Rock Stadium with a dream of playing at the highest level. Two days ago, I became a National Champion in that same stadium, surrounded by the family who never stopped believing in me," Mendoza wrote.
"2. Take the risk: When it’s fourth-and-5 at the 12-yard line, go for it. 3. Remember who got you there: Thank you to my teammates, coaches, support staff, professors, and everyone behind the scenes who helped make this happen."
Mendoza has been thrust into the national spotlight this season. The 22-year-old won the Heisman Trophy and led the team to an undefeated season.
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Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers smiles after defeating the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Jan. 19, 2026. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Mendoza credited his coaches and the support of the fans for helping him make "the unbelievable believable."
"Monday night, my teammates and I had the honor of raising the National Championship trophy and bringing a CFB title back to Bloomington, Indiana, for the first time in history. With the guidance of our coaches and the unwavering support of Hoosier Nation, our band of brothers made the unbelievable believable."
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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza passes against the Miami Hurricanes in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Mendoza, after a season in which he completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, with 41 touchdowns and six interceptions, has positioned himself to be the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 1 overall pick and need a franchise quarterback.
Maybe Mendoza will have another LinkedIn update about business-to-business sales if he does indeed get selected by the Raiders with the top pick in the draft.
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