Hoosiers Daily News: How Mark Cuban helped Indiana land Fernando Mendoza

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Mark Cuban’s presence has been felt around Indiana Athletics before, but few spots felt as significant as his attendance during Indiana’s game at Notre Dame in the 2024-25 College Football Playoff.

Cuban sporting the apparel of Hoosiers Connect, the athletic department’s official NIL partner, took in the Hoosiers’ first playoff appearance from a suite in Notre Dame Stadium alongside athletic director Scott Dolson and university president Pamela Whitten. Dolson brought up Indiana’s recruiting efforts in the transfer portal, focusing on a quarterback who could fit Curt Cignetti’s offense.

“We’ve got this quarterback that we really really like that we think would be great,” Dolson said, according to Cuban. “Just need a litttttle bit more.”

“How much is a little bit?” Cuban replied.

When he heard the amount and thought about it, considering the program’s sudden rise, Cuban made his move.

“I’ll put up the money to get this quarterback.”

Cuban told this story during an interview with Front Office Sports. Fernando Mendoza would go on to join his brother Alberto, who Cuban met previously while attending Dallas Mavericks games against the Mendozas’ hometown Miami Heat, with the Hoosiers. The rest is history.

Here’s what you need to know about the Hoosiers:

ICYMI

• Joel Klatt compares new Indiana QB Josh Hoover to Fernando Mendoza
• Indiana men’s basketball: Samet Yigitoglu scouting report
• Candy Stripe Catchup: Indiana football casts a long shadow over rival Purdue
• Indiana men’s basketball: Bryce Lindsay scouting report
• When Ohio State DC Matt Patricia knew he had a problem against Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza

What they’re saying about the Hoosiers

• Fox 59: Preserved in Paint: Bloomington artist honoring IU football’s success
• Inside The Hall: All three IU basketball signees ranked in final class of 2026 Rivals 150
• The Indianapolis Star:Where Indiana football sits in Big Ten rankings after spring ball
• Orlando Sentinel:Bianchi: Curt Cignetti’s award reminds us that the real magic of Lee Corso was never the headgear
• The Indianapolis Star: Ron Felling, longtime high school and Indiana basketball coach under Bob Knight, dies
• The Athletic: Before Curt Cignetti made college football history winning, he endured a lot of losing

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