BREAKING: Mike Renner's Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Select Fernando Mendzoa 1st Overall

Indiana signal-caller Fernando Mendoza is the top dog for Mike Renner of CBS Sports

Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (15) makes the catch during the Indiana versus Kennesaw State Big Ten football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It’s still very early in the process and the season, as we’re only four games in the CFB season and three games in the NFL but the narrative surrounding as NFL teams teams and college footballplayers is beginning to take shape.

But our first mock draft of the first quarter of the season is here, presented by Mike Renner of CBS Sports.

CBS Sports’ Mike Renner is projecting the Browns to select Indiana junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

“I had Mendoza No. 1 overall in my preseason mock draft, and after passing his first real test against Illinois over the weekend with flying colors, that’s not changing,” Renner wrote. The Cal transfer finished with 17 straight completions against the No. 9 Illini and now has 14 passing touchdowns (16 total) with no picks on the season.”

The 6-foot-5, 225 pound Mendoza, a junior, transferred to Indiana after spending the last two seasons at Cal.

Mendoza completed 21 of 23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns in a dominant 63–10 win against Illinois Saturday and has been almost perfect all season. He has 975 passing yards, 14 TDs, 0 INTS, 206.16 rating; 76 yards rushing, 2 TDs, 22 attempts on the season.

The Hoosiers travel to Iowa on Saturday to play the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium at 3:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.

CBS Sports named Mendoza the biggest risers in the first quarter of the regular season.

Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, +700

“No quarterback has gotten off to a better start in 2025 than Mendoza, who has the Hoosiers at 4-0 after a 63-10 dismantling of No. 9 Illinois on Saturday, Mendoza was 21-of-23 for 267 yards and five touchdowns, and he now has 975 yards and 14 passing touchdowns on the year. His +700 odds at FanDuel are the third-shortest in the field, and it’s a dip from the +1100 he was listed at last week.”

No. 1 pick odds for 2026 NFL Draft

Current No. 1 overall pick odds at FanDuel (as of Monday, Sept. 22):

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier +320 (was +300)
South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers +320 (+470) Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza +700 (+1100)
Oklahoma QB John Mateer +1100
Penn State QB Drew Allar +1300 (+700)
Miami QB Carson Beck +1500 (+1200)
Miami DE Rueben Bain Jr. +2000 (+2500)
USC QB Jayden Maiava +2500
Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt +2500
Texas QB Arch Manning +2500 (+1500)
Clemosn QB Cade Klubnik +2500 (+1100)
Clemson DT Peter Woods +3300 (+2500)
Clemson DE T.J Parker +4000 (+3300)