Tom Brady, Raiders owner Mark Davis scout Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza at CFP title game

Key Highlights

• 1 overall pick in this April's NFL Draft, and rumblings are beginning to swirl that they know they want to draft Mendoza as the face of the franchise. More: Key prospects to watch in the College Football Playoff championship gameThey just need validation, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.“There are two key people on the sideline that showed up tonight unexpectedly — Tom Brady, the Raiders’ minority owner, was standing on the sideline not far from Mark Davis, the controlling owner of the Raiders,” Thamel said on ESPN before the game. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMore: Fernando Mendoza bloody lip: How possible missed targeting busted Indiana QB open in CFP title game vs.
• MiamiA photo of the pair is beginning to make the rounds on social media, “They are soon to be the boss of Fernando Mendoza," Thamel added. At press time, Mendoza is 11-of-15 for 104 yards but hasn't thrown a touchdown toss just yet.
• Entering the game, Mendoza had been an efficient passer throughout the College Football Playoff, as the Hoosiers cruised to victories against the Alabama Crimson Tide and Oregon Ducks to reach the title game. For Mendoza's sake, impressing the Raiders' brass may be all he needs to solidify his No.
• 1 overall selection. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOnly time will tell, however. More Big Ten newsIU's Curt Cignetti drops huge Nick Saban lesson he learned before CFP national title gameTodd McShay passionately defends Dante Moore's decision to return to Oregon DucksCollege football analyst rips those in denial of Curt Cignetti's, Indiana's successTodd McShay delivers ultimate Indiana football blueprint for why it's sport's best team.