Fernando Mendoza impresses in Las Vegas Raiders debut as he throws his first touchdown pass as a pro No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza picked up right where he left off after leading Indiana to a national championship this past January. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner showed a lot of positive signs in his preseason debut with the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night. Mendoza replaced Kirk Cousins after the veteran led the Raiders right down the field for a touchdown on the game’s opening drive. Across five drives, Mendoza finished 10-for-16 for 97 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a 10-play, 79-yard drive in the second quarter. Mendoza’s best throw of the day came on the opening play of that drive, completing a 19-yard comeback route to Malik Benson, threading it between three Arizona Cardinals defenders.
After a 53-yard run from Mike Washington Jr., the Raiders were set up in the red zone. Mendoza followed with two short completions, including one to fellow Hoosier Ian Thomas. That completion set up a third-and-goal situation from the 6-yard line. Mendoza dropped back and found Jack Bech across the middle for the score. There were multiple Cardinals in the area, but Mendoza threw it low, allowing Bech to corral it comfortably without a chance for a deflection that could’ve led to a turnover. The potential face of the franchise showed his maturity time and time again throughout the game. In addition to his pinpoint accuracy, Mendoza did not panic when his first option was not open on multiple occasions. Rather than forcing a dangerous pass into tight coverage, he would check it down to the running back for a short gain.
Though Mendoza faces an uphill battle to start in Week 1, Thursday’s performance showed that he will be ready when his name is called. He comes from an Indiana program led by a perfection-demanding head coach in Curt Cignetti. He is now coached by Klint Kubiak, who turned Sam Darnold from a career backup into a Super Bowl champion in one season. Mendoza wasn’t the only former Hoosier who shined on Thursday night. His predecessor at Indiana, 49ers third-stringer Kurtis Rourke, completed 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards in his outing. Steelers rookie tight end Riley Nowakowski hauled in a touchdown catch from Drew Allar. Rookie linebacker Devan Boykin made a couple of nice plays as well for Pittsburgh.
Several Indiana University Football Players Named on Preseason Watch Lists Preseason recognition continues to roll in for Indiana football’s loaded 2026 roster. Safety Amare Ferrell was named to the Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday. The award is given annually to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. Ferrell has been a key contributor throughout his three-year IU football career and a full-time starter each of the last two seasons. Overall he has appeared in 41 career games with 28 starts. Ferrell ranks tied for No. 16 on the IU career interceptions charts with eight.
Wide receiver Charlie Becker is on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. That award recognizes the FBS player who best combines exemplary service with leadership and achievement on and off the field. Becker has appeared in 28 games with eight starts through two seasons. He had a breakout 2025 season, with 34 catches for 679 yards and four touchdowns. Four Hoosiers are on the Lombardi Award Watch List — Isaiah Jones, Tyrique Tucker, Rolijah Hardy and Carter Smith. The award is named after legendary coach Vince Lombardi, and the list includes 54 of the nation’s top linemen and linebackers from across all FBS conferences and independents.
MORE IU PLAYERS ON 2026 PRESEASON WATCH LISTS-Lou Groza Award – Nico Radicic. Rimington Trophy – Bray Lynch. Nagurski Trophy – Rolijah Hardy, Isaiah Jones, Tyrique Tucker, Amare Ferrell. Outland Trophy – Carter Smith and Tyrique Tucker. Maxwell Award – Josh Hoover. Mannelly Award – Drew Clausen. Good Works Team – Charlie Becker. Dodd Trophy — Curt Cignetti. Lott Trophy — Tyrique Tucker and Jamari Sharpe.
Seen this before? Big 12 Defensive Coordinator calls Indiana University Football’s Josh Hoover an Average Quarterback It seems fair to say there’s virtually no way to exceed what Fernando Mendoza did for Indiana football in 2025. 16-0. National champion. Heisman Trophy winner. No. 1 NFL Draft pick. How do you top that? You don’t. But it seems equally fair to acknowledge the quarterback you think you know before he arrives at IU is not the quarterback you’re going to see in year one with coach Curt Cignetti and his staff. We’ve documented this “QB whisperer” phenomenon extensively.
On average, Cignetti’s last six starters at quarterback going back to his time at James Madison have seen a 275% improvement in touchdown to interception ratio, a 25.4% increase in quarterback rating, and a 23.2% improvement in PFF grade. They’ve all won major postseason honors as well. Ahead of last year, CBS Sports ranked Mendoza as just the third best quarterback in the Big Ten, and an ESPN article gave him the 23rd best odds to win the Heisman. And no one was projecting Kurtis Rourke to be named second-team All-Big Ten and lead the league in QB rating. So how should we react when someone who has game planned against projected IU starter Josh Hoover isn’t particularly impressed by the TCU transfer? Here’s what a Big 12 defensive coordinator told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg about Hoover. “It’s going to be a step down. He’s not going to be [Fernando] Mendoza,” the Big 12 DC told ESPN. “I wasn’t a hater of his, but I thought he was a pretty average to slightly above-average guy. I don’t think he’s going to go there and win the Heisman.” For his part, Hoover knowingly stepped into the fire.
Slightly above average could be a description used for each of the last six quarterbacks Cignetti had before they arrived in Bloomington. And taking a step down from Mendoza and/or not winning the Heisman wouldn’t really be a cause for major concern. After all, Carson Beck, Trinidad Chambliss and Dante Moore weren’t Heisman finalists, but all took their teams to the national semifinals in January. That’s the real goal here, and as Cignetti said in the spring, Hoover should have an elite running game and defense to compliment his skill set. Although he plays a critical position, it’s not all on his shoulders.
“I wanted to get better,” Hoover said in the spring. “I wanted to be the best quarterback I could be. No. 1, I felt coming here would give me a chance to get better, get developed by some great coaches and No. 2, be part of a great program with a bunch of great guys who are unselfish. … “I’m trying to be the best version of myself and be who I am every day. That’s all I have to do. Be myself. Fernando is an unbelievable person and player. I have to be myself, do my best for IU, and make guys around me better.”
Indiana Fever take down the Dallas Wings 98-87 as they extend win streak to three straight The Indiana Fever escaped with a 98-87 win over the Dallas Wings on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, extending their win streak to three games. It was Indiana’s first meeting with Dallas since the season opener in early May, when the Fever fell 107-104. On Friday, Fever fans were left holding their breath late in the first half when star guard Caitlin Clark limped to the locker room with under a minute to play before halftime. It appeared Clark’s left foot clipped the back of Wings forward Alysha Clark’s right foot. Clark then passed on going for a rebound and headed toward the tunnel under her own power.
Clark returned in the second half and immediately sparked Indiana’s offense. She finished with a team-high 29 points, with 20 of those coming after halftime. Clark finished with 29 points and 10 assists. Clarks’ performance was her 28th career points/assists double-double, officially tying Sue Bird for the third most in WNBA history. As a team, the Fever trailed 37-35 at halftime but outscored the Wings by 13 points in the second half to close out the win. Indiana also dominated the paint, outscoring Dallas 50-34 down low, led by Aliyah Boston’s 16-point, 10-rebound double-double. Friday marked Boston’s 11th double-double this season. Additionally, ninth-year guard Kelsey Mitchell pushed her streak of 20-point games to 18 straight, extending her own WNBA single-season record. Mitchell shot just 9-21 from the field Friday but still finished with 23 points. Indiana native and first-year Fever guard Tyasha Harris also pitched in 15 points while going a perfect 5-for-5 from three-point range. Her five made threes in Friday’s win mark a career-high in made threes for a single game.
Indiana Pacers Announce the 2026-27 Regular Season Schedule The Indiana Pacers’ entire 2026-2027 regular season schedule is set. The Pacers’ season opener is a road game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, October 21. Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton will make his return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Indiana’s home opener against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, October 23. LeBron James comes to town as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers for the Pacers’ second home game of the season on Wednesday, October 28. Indiana faces off against the defending NBA champion New York Knicks for the first time on Friday, November 13, inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana’s first matchup against New York will be part of the NBA Cup in-season tournament. The Pacers head to Madison Square Garden to play the Knicks on the road for the first time on Sunday, November 22 at 8 p.m. The following day, the Pacers will travel back to Indy for a 2025 NBA Finals rematch against the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 23. Indy will travel to play Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs for the first time this season on January 6 at 7 p.m. The Pacers will play the Thunder on the road for the first time on February 5. In total, the Pacers have 11 nationally televised games this season. Click here for the Pacers’ full 2026-2027 season schedule.
Indianapolis Colts Chief Legal Officer Dan Emerson set to retire later this year Indianapolis Colts Chief Legal Officer Dan Emerson is set to retire later this year after spending 42 years with the Colts, he announced. Emerson was hired to represent the Colts by then-owner Robert Irsay back when the Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984. “Dan Emerson has played an integral role in so many significant decisions, negotiations, and projects since the Colts arrived here in 1984, including our lease with the city and the construction of Lucas Oil Stadium,” Colts Owner & CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon said in a news release. “Our father and grandfather had so much trust in Dan’s judgement and the ultimate respect for him as a professional and a person, and he’s likewise been an invaluable resource to my sisters and me.” “We can’t be more grateful to Dan for helping build our organization and business into what it is today, but we’re happy he’ll soon be able to spend more time doing what he loves most – being a husband, dad, and grandfather.” Before working with the Colts, Emerson practiced law with the Bose McKinney & Evans firm in Indianapolis. Elijah Hammans will succeed Emerson on the Colts’ general counsel.
IndyCar releases ‘Phase One’ of 2027 schedule IndyCar announced the first eight races of the 2027 IndyCar Series schedule Last Wednesday. The season will kick off with three races in three straight weekends, with the season starting in St. Petersburg once again. The first eight races of the 2027 schedule are the same as the first eight races of the 2026 schedule. Sunday, March 7 – Streets of St. Petersburg Saturday, March 13 – Phoenix Raceway Sunday, March 21 – Streets of Arlington Sunday, April 4 – Barber Motorsports Park Sunday, April 18 – Streets of Long Beach Saturday, May 15 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Sunday, May 30 – 111th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Sunday, June 6 – Streets of Detroit
“The start to this year’s 2026 season was action-packed, and it’s gratifying to know the stage is set for a return to that frantic pace in 2027,” IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles said. “St. Pete has become an ideal host to begin our season, and the reaction to the series’ return to historic Phoenix Raceway made our partnership with NASCAR and FOX all the more special. To finish that stretch with a marquee event on the Streets of Arlington will be a fitting way to lead into another heated season-long battle for the NTT IndyCar Series championship.”