Surrounded by family and friends in his hometown of Miami, Florida, Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders as the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Mendoza becomes the fifth No. 1 pick in the last seven NFL Drafts to have previously captured a CFP National Championship Title, joining the likes of LSU's Joe Burrow, Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, Georgia's Travon Walker and Alabama's Bryce Young. Mendoza and Burrow are the only No. 1 draft selections in the CFP era to have secured the Heisman Trophy and the CFP title, and Mendoza is the fourth (Burrow, Lawrence, Young) to have been named CFP National Championship Offensive Player of the Game.

The No. 1 overall pick in eight of the previous 12 NFL Drafts, including seven of the past nine, has made at least one appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Overall, 22 CFP participants landed themselves on NFL rosters after the first round of the 2026 draft, the most in a single Day 1 including each of the top five picks and eight of the first 10.

Selections will continue with Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday, April 24, and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 25.

CFP IN THE 2026 NFL DRAFT: FIRST ROUND SELECTIONS