Mark Cuban reveals he is the financial reason Fernando Mendoza landed with Indiana: 'The rest is history'

As one of Indiana's largest known NIL donors, Cuban recently said he funded Mendoza's deal to join the Hoosiers.

Mark Cuban reveals he is the financial reason Fernando Mendoza landed with Indiana: 'The rest is history'

As one of Indiana's largest known NIL donors, Cuban recently said he funded Mendoza's deal to join the Hoosiers.

Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur and former Dallas Mavericks owner, has revealed a game-changing move that may have reshaped college football history. In a recent interview, Cuban confirmed he was the financial force behind star quarterback Fernando Mendoza's transfer to Indiana University—a move that ultimately led to Mendoza winning the Heisman Trophy, becoming the No. 1 NFL Draft pick, and securing Indiana's first national championship.

Cuban, known as one of Indiana's largest NIL donors, shared the story during a chat with Front Office Sports. It all started during the 2024 College Football Playoff, when Indiana faced Notre Dame. Cuban was in a suite with Hoosiers athletic director Scott Dolson, and as the game slipped away, Dolson mentioned a quarterback the team had its eye on.

"He's like, 'We’ve got this quarterback that we really, really like that we think would be great in [Curt Cignetti’s] system, we just need a little bit more,'" Cuban recalled. "I’m like, ‘How much is a little bit?’ And so he told me, and I’m like, ‘OK, you know, we’re on a roll, I’ll put up the money to get this quarterback.’"

The rest, as they say, is history. Cuban didn't disclose the exact amount he invested in Mendoza's NIL deal, but he admitted it was enough to seal the deal. Interestingly, Cuban noted that he had never donated to Indiana athletics before this moment. However, he had a personal connection: he already knew Mendoza's brother, Alberto, who was on the Hoosiers roster and a Miami Heat fan who would sit behind the bench at games.

"I knew [Fernando’s brother Alberto], who was already on the team, was a Heat fan and he would sit behind the Miami bench, and when I would come to go to Mavs-Heat games, he was like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to IU,’" Cuban said. "So we met. And so I..."

This behind-the-scenes story highlights the growing influence of NIL deals in college sports, where a single donor's commitment can turn a program into a powerhouse. For Indiana fans, Cuban's investment wasn't just about money—it was about making history.

Mark Cuban reveals he is the financial reason Fernando Mendoza landed with Indiana: &#39;The rest is history&#39;

Mark Cuban reveals he is the financial reason Fernando Mendoza landed with Indiana: &#39;The rest is history&#39;