Fernando Mendoza Is Gaining Immediate Locker Room Respect With White House Visit Decision

The Indiana Hoosiers football program will be visiting President Trump at the White House later this month, to celebrate their 2025 college football national championship.

But it doesn't sound like the team's star player, quarterback Fernando Mendoza, will be there.

"I'm on the bottom of the totem pole here. I've got to prove myself," Mendoza told reporters Saturday. "I can't miss practice. I don't have the calendar, but 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."

The visit is set for May 11.

Mendoza, meanwhile, is fast at work in Las Vegas.

"Out of all those great milestones, I'm really happy about these past two days, because it's back to football," Mendoza said

No one would blame Mendoza - the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner - if he skipped out on some May practices to celebrate his College Football Playoff national championship in Washington, D.C.

But, instead, Mendoza's work ethic is shining through.

Mendoza's teammates have to love seeing this

It's not easy to gain immediate respect from your teammates as a rookie in the National Football League.

Respect is earned, not given - even with No. 1 overall NFL Draft picks.

Mendoza is doing what he can to earn that respect. By skipping out on a White House visit - no matter who is president - to instead work with your teammates, in the May heat, Mendoza is earning that respect in a big-time way.

It's a great sign of what could be to come for Mendoza in Las Vegas.

The Raiders appear to have a very good one - at least when it comes to the head on his shoulders.

Copyright The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This story was originally published May 3, 2026 at 11:43 AM.