Overview
- Cuban, in a Front Office Sports interview posted Tuesday, said he supplied the extra NIL money—name, image and likeness payments—Indiana needed to land Fernando Mendoza.
- He said the pledge was discussed during Indiana’s Dec. 20, 2024 College Football Playoff loss to Notre Dame while he spoke with athletic director Scott Dolson and president Pamela Whitten.
- Cuban declined to disclose the amount and said he gives money to Dolson to allocate, saying he does not direct specific deals.
- Mendoza transferred from Cal soon after and in 2025 won the Heisman Trophy, led Indiana to a 16-0 national championship season, and became the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Reports citing valuation services estimate Mendoza earned about $2.6 million at Indiana versus roughly $1.6 million at Cal, though Cuban’s precise contribution remains undisclosed.