It’s clear that the 2025 NCAA football season will be remembered as one of the most surprising in recent history, largely because of one player who stunned fans and analysts alike. That player is Fernando Mendoza, who went from being a relatively low-profile prospect to becoming the best player in the nation and the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Historically, the Indiana Hoosiers football program has experienced more struggles than success. Before 2025, the Hoosiers had only won two conference championships in the Big Ten Conference, with the most recent coming all the way back in 1967. However, everything changed during their remarkable 2025 campaign, as they captured their third conference title behind the outstanding play of Mendoza.
Indiana finished the season with a perfect 16-0 record, the best in program history. Along the way, they defeated several national powerhouses and dominated the College Football Playoff, ultimately capping the season with a huge victory over the Miami Hurricanes football. Mendoza sealed the championship with a spectacular touchdown and, with the Heisman Trophy in his hands, sent a clear message to the NFL that he is ready to conquer the league next.
Mendoza overshadowed several quarterbacks once projected as first-round picks
Just a year ago, three quarterbacks were widely expected to be selected in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft: Arch Manning, Drew Allar, and Cade Klubnik. However, Manning decided to return for another season with the Texas Longhorns football, while the other two are heading to the draft with much lower projections than expected-something that would have seemed unthinkable just a year ago.
The most affected appears to be Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik of the Clemson Tigers football. After an impressive 2024 season in which he threw for more than 4,000 yards, many believed he would have been a clear first-round pick had he declared at that time. Instead, his disappointing 2025 season-where he managed just 16 touchdown passes-has caused his draft stock to drop significantly, with some projections placing him as a potential Day 3 selection.
Still, the talent Klubnik displayed in 2024 suggests he could be a valuable pick in the later rounds. Teams like the Cleveland Browns or the New York Jets could be intriguing destinations, particularly if he’s looking for a realistic chance to see playing time during the season.
There’s no doubt that Klubnik has talent. The 2025 season may simply prove to be a setback rather than a defining moment. Now he’ll have the opportunity to show what he’s made of with whichever team selects him in the upcoming NFL Draft. Some have even mentioned the Dallas Cowboys as a possible landing spot, especially considering the experience and recent injury issues of Dak Prescott. If that happens, Klubnik could become a very intriguing long-term gamble for an NFL franchise.
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