Overview
- Haas School of Business Dean Jenny Chatman invited Mendoza to the school’s MBA commencement so he could walk the stage and accept his undergraduate degree in business administration and management.
- Mendoza completed his Cal coursework in 2025 while enrolled at Indiana and reports say he paid for his final classes to finish the degree.
- He missed his originally scheduled Cal commencement and a White House celebration with his Indiana teammates because of Las Vegas Raiders practice and rookie obligations.
- The Raiders drafted Mendoza No. 1 overall in 2026 and are gradually integrating him into the offense with veteran Kirk Cousins taking early reps while Mendoza has said he was upset to miss team practice for the mandatory NFLPA Rookie Premiere.
- The episode underscores the tradeoffs rookies face between public ceremonies and on-field preparation and suggests the next things to watch are Mendoza’s growing practice reps and how the Raiders manage his short-term development.