Sports · Football (NFL) · published 2026-08-28 · via Yahoo Sports

Raiders' top pick leans on Cal work ethic to steady shaky preseason

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, is drawing on the discipline he developed at Cal to handle a difficult preseason. He rose from third-string to starter as a freshman there, and that experience is now shaping his approach with the Raiders.

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Mendoza's improbable rise at Cal—from third-string to starter during his freshman year—provides a clear blueprint for his current situation with the Raiders. That experience taught him to compartmentalize setbacks, a skill he is now applying to a preseason marked by inconsistent play. The Aug. 27 exhibition against the San Francisco 49ers served as the latest test of that composure.

As the No. 1 overall selection, Mendoza carries immense expectations for a franchise seeking

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This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “What Fernando Mendoza learned at Cal is guiding him through rocky Raiders start.” Browse more stories.