Fernando Mendoza Passes on White House Invitation Following Championship Season

Fernando Mendoza, who was selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft and is now quarterbacking the Las Vegas Raiders, will not be joining his college teammates at the White House next month.

The Indiana Hoosiers earned an invitation to visit the presidential residence on May 11 following their National Championship victory over the Miami Hurricanes earlier this year. However, the 22-year-old has decided to sit out the trip.

"If it is on the first day of OTAs [organized team activities], like I said, I'm on the bottom of the totem pole here. I gotta prove myself," Mendoza explained. "I can't miss practice."

The quarterback further elaborated on his decision, emphasizing his focus on his professional responsibilities. "As a rookie, I don't think that's a good look. I want to try to best serve my teammates and I don't know if that'd be accomplishing that goal."

Mendoza joins a long list of athletes who have opted out of White House visits for varying reasons over the years, with motivations ranging from scheduling conflicts to political considerations.