Mark Cuban Reveals He Put Up NIL Money to Land Fernando Mendoza at Indiana

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban says he played a direct role in bringing Fernando Mendoza to Indiana — and, by extension, helping launch one of the most successful seasons in college football history.

In a newly released interview with Front Office Sports, Cuban revealed that he personally covered the remaining money needed to finalize Mendoza’s NIL package before the quarterback transferred to Indiana. According to Cuban, the conversation started with Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson, who believed Mendoza would be a perfect fit for coach Curt Cignetti’s offense but needed additional financial backing to close the deal.

“[Scott Dolson]’s like, we’ve got this quarterback that we really, really like that we think would be great in Curt Cignetti’s system, we just need a little bit more,” Cuban explained. “I’m like, ‘How much is a little bit?’”

Cuban said he agreed to fund the difference, adding, “We’re on a roll, I’ll put up the money to get this quarterback.”

The investment turned into one of the biggest success stories of the NIL era. Mendoza transferred from Cal to Indiana ahead of the 2025 season and immediately transformed the program. The quarterback led the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record, a national championship victory over Miami, and the school’s first-ever Heisman Trophy.

A few months later, he became the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft when the Las Vegas Raiders selected him to lead the franchise into a new era.

Cuban also revealed that his connection to the Mendoza family predated Fernando’s arrival at Indiana. He had previously met Fernando’s younger brother, Alberto Mendoza, who was already part of the Hoosiers program and frequently attended Miami Heat games. Cuban said those interactions helped build familiarity before the NIL discussion ever happened.

“I knew [Fernando’s brother Alberto], who was already on the team, was a Heat fan,” Cuban said. “So we met. And so I’m like, OK, I’ll put up the money, and we can go get Fernando, and the rest is history.”

The revelation adds another layer to Mendoza’s rapid rise from under-recruited prospect to one of the biggest names in football. Over the past year, Mendoza’s profile expanded well beyond the field.

He appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, became the centerpiece of NFL Draft coverage, and drew praise from everyone from Peyton Manning to unexpected celebrity observers like Abella Danger.

Even as the spotlight grew, Mendoza consistently kept the focus on family, teammates, and faith. During his Heisman acceptance speech, he emotionally thanked his mother, who has battled multiple sclerosis for years, calling her “my why.”