UPDATE: this story has been updated to add Mendoza winning the Maxwell Award
Indiana football has made all sorts of history in 2025 with its perfect 12-0 regular season and victory over then-No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game.
Redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza led the way, and, in turn, he’s earning several awards. Mendoza was named the Davey O’Brien Award and Maxwell Award winner Friday night.
The Davey O’Brien Award, named after former Texas Christian University quarterback Davey O’Brien, honors the top quarterback nationally. The Maxwell Award is given to the top player in college football. Mendoza is the second Hoosier to win the Maxwell Award, joining former running back Anthony Thompson in 1989.
Mendoza was previously named the Walter Camp Player of the Year and The Associated Press’ Player of the Year on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
Mendoza completed 71.5% of his passes for 2,980 yards and a nation-high 33 touchdowns. He also rushed for 240 yards and six touchdowns.
Mendoza is the second consecutive winner of the award to have Miami ties, as quarterback Cam Ward received the honor last season in his lone campaign at the University of Miami.
Mendoza is also in line to also become the first Hoosier to win the Heisman Trophy. All major sportsbooks have Mendoza as the overwhelming favorite for the award, which will be announced Saturday night.
For all the success Mendoza and the Hoosiers have had this season, they’ll now chase a national championship. The Cream and Crimson await either the No. 8 University of Oklahoma or the No. 9 University of Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and columnist Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa and qmrichar@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
