College Football Championship 2026 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch for Miami vs. Indiana

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft will likely be on the field in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza is looking more and more like the Las Vegas Raiders' selection in April.

Mendoza is the top prospect in the matchup with the Miami Hurricanes, but the ACC side should have a handful of first-round selections as well.

Miami's top prospects reside on the interior on both sides of the ball.

Fernando Mendoza

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Fernando Mendoza's stock as the No. 1 pick increased in the last week.

The Heisman Trophy winner won't have as much competition as expected to be the top pick in April. Dante Moore opted to stay another season at Oregon.

Moore's absence in the draft class creates a large gap between Mendoza and the other quarterback prospects.

That makes Las Vegas the most likely destination for the Indiana quarterback, who is one win away from leading the Hoosiers to an undefeated season.

Mendoza's overall performance on Monday will matter a bit to his draft stock because it is the biggest game he's ever played in, but scouts and coaches have a fairly strong grasp on what he can bring to the NFL already.

Rueben Bain

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Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain checked in at No. 2 on the big board from Bleacher Report's NFL scouting department in November.

Bain will be one of the top defensive players taken in April. Where he lands is dependent on what happens in the top five with the quarterback-hungry teams.

Bain could be drafted as high as the New York Jets at No. 2. The Jets might look for a Quinnen Williams replacement instead of a quarterback now that Moore is not available.

The Arizona Cardinals could be in the mix for Bain at No. 3, but that could be wholly dependent on the decision made on Kyler Murray's future by the new coaching staff.

Even if he isn't a top-three pick, Bain should be a top-10 selection as one of the most powerful defensive playmakers in the draft class.

Francis Mauigoa

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Francis Mauigoa is the top interior offensive lineman in the draft class, per B/R's NFL scouting department.

Mauigoa has been mocked as high as Arizona at No. 3 in recent predictions. ESPN.com's Jordan Reid put Mauigoa in that position.

Mauigoa's been part of an offensive line that thrived in run blocking for Mark Fletcher, who had at least 90 rushing yards in each of Miami's first three CFB Playoff games.

If the Jets and Cardinals are in the market for a quarterback, or someone at the offensive skill positions, Mauigoa could be a perfect fit at No. 4 for the Tennessee Titans, who could use more protection for Cam Ward in his second season.