MISHAWAKA, Ind. (WNDU) – Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price used his Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) sponsorship money to buy Christmas gifts for three local children through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program on Friday afternoon.

Price shopped for toys at the Walmart in Mishawaka as part of the nationwide program that provides hundreds of thousands of Christmas gifts for children each year.

College athletes earned nearly $500 million from NIL sponsorships this year. While some spend the money on jewelry or cars, Price chose to give back to the community.

“I’m just a kid from a small town: Denison, Texas. I didn’t come from much as a kid myself. As a guy who comes from a large family, I have a lot of siblings and little cousins running around that I helped raise. And I know it meant a lot to them, what I am doing in my position right now. It was truly a blessing to be able to be in this position to do that, do it for a lot of other kids in the community means a lot to me,” Price said.

Price has worked as a fifth-grade teaching assistant in his hometown of Denison, Texas, and coaches young athletes in Mishawaka. As the oldest of three children, he credits his humble upbringing for his charitable spirit.

For a 9-year-old boy, Price selected a monster truck, Legos and a football, thinking back on his own favorite childhood toys.

Price strives to make youth sports more accessible so all children can learn the same valuable lessons he did in athletics.

“The world is starting to become more individualized. People are starting to become more selfish and individual. So, just being able to stay around people, get outside. And the biggest thing is being part of a team. No one can take that away from you because of the relationships you make. So, just being able to be part of something bigger than yourself is what it’s really about,” Price said.

Price hopes his involvement will bring more attention to the Angel Tree program and encourage other college athletes to use their money to benefit local communities.

“It felt nostalgic doing a little Christmas shopping for a kid. I have two younger sisters, so this isn’t new to me. I used to help my mom out with getting them gifts. This is a time of joy and holiday spirit, and I think we take for granted some of that the older we get. Everyone deserves to have some joy during the season, so I’m here to help in any way that I can. If you’re in a position to do what you can to help others, I encourage you to do so, like I did today, and merry Christmas,” Price said.

The Salvation Army will continue accepting Angel Tree gifts through the weekend and will distribute them Tuesday.

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A fresh batch of questions about the University of Wisconsin football program landed in my inbox this week, and they hit right at the heart of where this team finds itself heading into a pivotal offseason.

This mailbag dives into the quarterback dilemma at the center of everything, whether Wisconsin can afford to be patient with internal development, and how much urgency should shape portal decisions moving forward. We also get into where NIL resources should be spent internally if the staff is serious about building continuity instead of constantly hitting reset, and which returning player could tell us the most about whether this staff is truly developing talent behind the scenes.

Inevitably, that leads us back to the bigger-picture question hovering over it all: why the administration is sticking with head coach Luke Fickell through all of the turbulence, and why they still believe there’s hope.

Some fair questions. Some uncomfortable ones. Let’s get into it.

Q: I know the instinct every offseason is to hit the transfer portal and go get another quarterback, but why not just roll with Carter Smith?

– Dave from Da Northwoods.

I understand the question, and honestly, it’s a fair one.

Carter Smith is absolutely a player this staff should invest in and develop. The competitiveness is evident. The mobility is real. He can move the chains with his legs and add a dimension to the run game that Wisconsin has desperately needed under center. And it’s probably not fair to make any firm declarations about what Smith is or isn’t as a passer yet.

Smith finished 26-of-46 for 201 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, and he added another 87 yards and a score on the ground, helping lead Wisconsin to late-season wins over a pair of Top 25 teams.

The Florida native was thrown into action late in the season behind a patched-together offensive line, running a limited offense, after spending most of the season with the third team or scout team. That’s not exactly a clean evaluation environment. Long term, that’s the kind of quarterback arc you want. Recruit a guy, develop him, let him grow, and eventually see the payoff. The problem is, this staff doesn’t have the luxury of time.

This is a win-now season. The 2026 schedule is a bit lighter. The administration has been very public about investing more NIL resources and private funding into the program. At some point, those words have to translate into action, or the credibility of everyone involved takes a hit. Fair or not, that’s the reality of where Wisconsin football is right now.

Because of that urgency, Fickell can’t afford to wager his entire future on Smith. You can’t go into a season like this hoping development catches up in real time at the most important position on the field. If this staff gets quarterback wrong again, or has to navigate injuries, there’s a very real chance they won’t be here in 2027 to see how Smith’s story plays out.

“We know that the QB position is gonna be really key and critical,” Fickell said. “We haven’t shied away from making sure our guys understand that.”

That’s why I still believe Wisconsin has to go out and get a major-impact quarterback in the transfer portal. Someone closer to the top of the market. Someone who can raise the floor of the entire roster immediately. Quarterback is arguably the quickest way to change the makeup of a team, mask flaws, and stabilize everything else that’s a work in progress.

The ideal scenario is spending big at quarterback and retaining Smith. Let him continue to develop without the weight of carrying the program right away. If Smith becomes the future beyond that, wonderful. That’s a win.

But you can’t stake the program’s immediate future on potential alone at this point. There were things to like from Smith, no question. There just isn’t enough margin for error anymore to wait and see if that’s enough.

Q: With so much roster turnover expected this offseason, is there one position group you’d prioritize using Wisconsin’s NIL resources to keep intact, rather than rebuilding it through the portal?

– Allen C.

In the portal era, there’s really no such thing as a position group that doesn’t need help. Even the healthiest rooms are usually forced to backfill snaps or bodies just to survive the standard offseason attrition. That said, if I’m picking one spot where I’d be intentional about using NIL resources to keep the core of current players intact, it starts with inside linebacker.

And not just because of the young talent everyone already knows about.

For me, it begins with Christian Alliegro. At 6-foot-4 and 247 pounds, he looks exactly like what you want from a Will linebacker in this system, and the production backed that up. He finished the season with 53 total tackles, nine pressures, 8.0 tackles for loss, and four sacks. He brings size, range, and versatility, and he’s a player you can deploy in a lot of different ways depending on the matchup. Plus, he’s a leader in that room.

Then there’s Mason Posa, who might already be one of the most important defensive pieces Wisconsin has moving forward. Despite arriving on campus in the summer, Posa worked his way into a significant role and finished with a team-high 61 total tackles in just 363 snaps.

He added 14 pressures, 4.0 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery, earning third-team All-Big Ten recognition from the coaches. His 88.3 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus tells the same story the tape does. Posa can defend the run, hold up in coverage, and get after the quarterback. That’s the complete package, and he already plays like the heartbeat of the Badgers’ defense.

Cooper Catalano rounds it out. He’s more of a throwback type, an unheralded recruit who became Wisconsin’s all-time leading tackler in high school and carried that production forward. He finished with 56 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four pressures, and two sacks. Catalano feels like a true Mike linebacker, a gritty, physical tackler, and reliable. There’s a world where all three of these guys play significant snaps together, especially if the defensive line in front of them plays as it did in 2025.

That part matters. If Wisconsin can rebuild the defensive line this offseason, it opens the door for this group to be disruptive and impactful.

Tackett Curtis entering the portal made sense given how his role changed, and the addition of Iowa Central Community College transfer Taylor Schaefer gives the room some added depth. There’s also Thomas Heiberger, who finally got healthy late in the season and showed flashes after being a highly regarded recruit as an edge-rusher. If you can retain Heiberger as a depth piece, that only helps strengthen the room.

But zooming out, this is a room where I don’t think outside additions necessarily raise the ceiling much beyond what’s already here. What you have is leadership and multiple players with legitimate all-conference upside. That’s hard to replace, especially when you factor in the culture and energy this group provides. Now you just need some continuity.

If I’m allocating resources with an eye toward 2026 and beyond, inside linebacker is the room I’m doing everything I can to keep intact.

Q: Is there one returning player whose trajectory this season could say a lot about whether this staff is actually developing talent?

– BadgerDad78

Fernando Mendoza NIL deals, explained: How much money Indiana star makes from adidas, other sponsors originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Fernando Mendoza has had a magical 2025 season, leading the Indiana Hoosiers to an undefeated 13-0 regular season and the program’s first outright Big Ten title since 1945. Along with breaking program records as a team, Mendoza has produced a historic season of his own.

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The redshirt junior quarterback, a transfer from California, shattered Indiana’s single-season passing marks by completing 71.5% of his passes for 2,980 yards and a nation-leading 33 touchdown passes against just six interceptions. He also proved to be a threat with his legs, adding 240 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, putting him second nationally in total touchdowns accounted for (39). His remarkable campaign earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Quarterback of the Year honors, along with the Walter Camp Player of the Year award. He also became just the second player in program history to be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

As one of the top players in the nation, Mendoza’s rapid rise has made him a face of the collegiate game’s new financial era. His personal brand — which includes a recent high-profile endorsement deal with Adidas and his exclusive “Mendoza Mania” merchandise line — has soared throughout the season.

Here’s a breakdown of how much the Indiana star has brought in.

MORE: Indiana 2025 College Football Playoff tickets guide

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Fernando Mendoza NIL money

According to the latest industry valuations, the Indiana star’s Name, Image, and Likeness (N.I.L.) portfolio is valued at an estimated $2.6 million, positioning him among the top five highest-valued college football players in the country.

On3 has the quarterback ranked fifth in college football and seventh in its N.I.L 100. He is listed below only four FBS players:

• Arch Manning, Texas ($5.3 million)

• Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State ($4.2 million)

• Carson Beck, Miami ($3.1 million)

• Bryce Underwood, Michigan ($3 million)

His valuation spiked from an estimated $1.6 million earlier in the year to $2.6 million after the Hoosiers’ perfect regular season.

MORE: Who will Indiana play next?

Fernando Mendoza NIL deals

Mendoza has two main NIL partnerships.

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Adidas

Ahead of Indiana’s 13-10 Big Ten Championship win over No. 2 Ohio State, Mendoza inked a deal with Adidas.

“Excited to share that I’ve accepted an opportunity to join adidas!” said on LinkedIn. “I’m very grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way and excited to bring my passion for sport, leadership, and work ethic to the Three Stripes. Let’s get to work.”

He joins a star-studded adidas lineup that includes Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola and Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson.

MORE: How Curt Cignetti turned Indiana into a college football powerhouse

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Mendoza Mania

In collaboration with his brother Alberto, who is Indiana’s backup signal-caller, Mendoza launched a brand-new “Mendoza Mania” Collection on the Indiana NIL Store.

The initiative carries a deeply personal meaning for Mendoza: a portion of all proceeds from the collection will benefit the National MS Society, honoring his mother who continues her courageous fight against Multiple Sclerosis.

This compassionate focus transforms the quarterback’s commercial venture into a vehicle for impact, lending deeper purpose to every piece of “Mendoza Mania” merchandise sold.

By leveraging his national spotlight, Mendoza is driving crucial funds and awareness for the National MS Society’s mission to cure the disease and empower those affected to live their best lives.

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MORE: Curt Cignetti’s best quotes at Indiana

Fernando Mendoza net worth 2025

Mendoza’s net worth is not publicly available. Though, sources report that his net worth is in the hundred thousands, reaching up to $1 million.

This will continue to rise as Mendoza leads Indiana through the College Football Playoff, and down the road, becomes a first round pick in the NFL Draft.

MORE: Fernando Mendoza, Curt Cignetti react to Indiana’s rise

Almost every list of potential head coach candidates for Michigan has had some combination of the same names, like Kalen DeBoer, John Harbaugh, Jesse Minter, Kenny Dillingham, etc.

But ESPN’s Rece Davis had an interesting suggestion that hasn’t been mentioned much at all since the stunning development that led to Michigan firing head coach Sherrone Moore on Wednesday for having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, and Moore was arrested and charged with stalking and home invasion.

Davis, the host of “College GameDay” and a prominent voice on college football matters, suggested that former Stanford coach David Shaw should not only be on Michigan’s list of candidates but “given the circumstances, likely atop the list,” he posted on social media.

Shaw is in his first season as the Detroit Lions’ passing game coordinator and has not coached in college football since he resigned as Stanford’s head coach at the end of the 2022 season.

Shaw was 96-54 in 12 seasons at Stanford, including five seasons with double-digit wins. His 2015 Cardinal team went 12-2, won the Rose Bowl and finished No. 3 in the final AP top 25 poll. His 2011 and 2012 teams both finished No. 7 in the AP rankings, going 11-2 and 12-2, respectively.

Shaw’s Stanford tenure had two very distinct chapters, though. Through his first eight seasons, he was 82-26, winning at least eight games in every season, collecting three Pac-12 championships, four Pac-12 Coach of the Year awards and the Bobby Dodd national coach of the year award in 2017. Over his final four years, he went 14-28 with three losing seasons.

Shaw’s style would fit seamlessly at Michigan, as his best Stanford teams were known for dominant, physical rushing attacks.

Davis’ suggestion that Shaw should be atop Michigan’s list was beyond just his coaching resume, though.

The Wolverines program is in turmoil with one black eye after another now, from the NCAA investigation into and substantial penalties from the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal and now the ugly ending to Moore’s two-year tenure as head coach.

Shaw has his own connections to former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, serving as Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator at Stanford before succeeding him as head coach there, but he has a pristine reputation and record free of scandal and was among the most respected coaches in college football during his time with the Cardinal.

It’s not a crazy idea, though Michigan fans will surely prefer a splashier hire and a coach who has excelled in this new NIL/transfer portal era of college football.

Indiana head football coach Curt Cignetti and quarterback Fernando Mendoza each earned accolades during ESPN’s 35th annual The Home Depot College Football Awards, while a trio of Hoosiers were selected for All-America honors during the telecast.

Cignetti earns his second national coach of the year award this season in the form of the Home Depot Coach of the Year honor. He previously won the Walter Camp National Coach of the Year award. He earned each award in back-to-back seasons.  He the first coach to win the Home Depot Coach of the Year award in back-to-back seasons.

Mendoza was named winner of the Davey O’Brien Award and Maxwell Award to go along with his Walter Camp Award earlier in the week. He then joined teammates Carter Smith (OL, First Team) and D’Angelo Ponds (DB, Second Team) on the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America Team.

Cignetti helped the Hoosiers to its first unblemished regular season in program history, a program-record 13 wins through its first Big Ten Championship Game victory and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming College Football Playoff. On Wednesday, he became the first coach to win consecutive Walter Camp National Coach of the Year honors in the awards 59-year history.

Mendoza is the second Hoosier to win the prestigious Maxwell Award, joining running back Anthony Thompson in 1989. He is the first Big Ten student-athlete to win the award since Penn State running back Larry Johnson in 2002 and the first Big Ten quarterback to win the award since Drew Brees in 2000.

Mendoza currently leads the nation in passing touchdowns (33) and is the Power 4 leader in touchdowns responsible for (39). He is the third Big Ten quarterback since 2000 with three-straight games of at least four passing touchdowns and zero interceptions – C.J. Stroud (Ohio State; 2021) and Kyle Orton (Purdue; 2004, four straight). The Miami, Florida, native is the only FBS quarterback since at least 1996 with multiple games of at least 90 percent completion and four touchdown passes versus Power 4 opponents.

In 2025, Mendoza is the lone FBS quarterback with five games of 4-plus touchdown passes and zero interceptions and entered Championship Week as the FBS leader in percentage of passes that result in a touchdown at 10.9%, over one point higher than the next closest passer (Sayin, Ohio State; 9.2%).

He has thrown a touchdown pass in 12-straight games entering the College Football Playoff and has five games with both a passing and rushing touchdown in 2025. He has thrown 33 touchdowns to just six interceptions, is tied for No. 2 on the team with six rushing touchdowns and has 240 yards rushing on the season.

The Hoosiers earned the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff and will play the winner of Alabama/Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1, 2026. The game from Rose Bowl Stadium will kick at 4 p.m. ET

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