Why Joel Klatt, Todd McShay Would Take Fernando Mendoza Over Other Young QBs

Not long after Fernando Mendoza quarterbacked Indiana to a perfect season and a national title, FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt floated the idea that he would take the Hoosiers star over any young quarterback in the NFL to lead his team to a game-winning drive. Now, with the 2026 NFL Draft fast approaching, Klatt not only has bought into that idea, but he might also have another top draft analyst agreeing with him.

In the latest episode of "The Joel Klatt Show," Klatt and NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay agreed that they would trust Mendoza to lead a team to a game-winning drive in the final moments more than nearly any other young quarterback. 

"I think I would take Mendoza," Klatt said, as he listed Caleb Williams, Cam Ward and others.

McShay, meanwhile, believes that the debate is between Mendoza and just one other quarterback. 

"It would come down to Mendoza and Drake Maye, maybe," McShay said. "I'm armed with what I've seen in the NFL, which isn't fair. But if we're talking about college careers, absolutely, 1,000%. 

"But even knowing what I know in the NFL, I still may [pick Mendoza]. He's different. 

While Indiana won all 16 of its games this past season, not all of those wins were pretty. Mendoza needed to lead the Hoosiers to fourth-quarter comebacks in tough road environments at Iowa and Penn State. He had to make big throws and take Indiana on a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter of its win at Oregon. He also needed to make some clutch throws and plays to help seal the win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship before doing the same thing in Indiana's victory over Miami (Fla.) in the title game. 

Of course, the NFL is a different level of competition than the college game, and some