Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, made a surprise appearance at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business MBA commencement on Saturday to finally walk the stage for his undergraduate degree.
He had missed the primary undergraduate ceremony on Wednesday due to his obligations with the Raiders.
Dean Jenny Chatman paused the ceremony to introduce Mendoza, citing his exceptional excuse: he had used his Haas skills to negotiate a job with an excellent compensation package, but couldn't change his start date.
Mendoza, who also completed a master's program at Indiana in 2025 while leading the Hoosiers to a national championship, received a loud ovation as he accepted his degree in business administration and management.
He earlier missed a White House visit with his Hoosier teammates to focus on his NFL transition. President Donald Trump acknowledged their conversation, noting Mendoza's commitment to the Raiders.
Mendoza will develop behind veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins under new head coach Klint Kubiak.