Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza was the standout star at the 2025 College Football Awards, sweeping major honours and putting himself firmly in the spotlight as one of the game’s most decorated players this season.
Mendoza, a redshirt junior and California transfer, turned heads by winning both the Maxwell Award — given to the nation’s most outstanding college football player — and the Davey O’Brien Award as the top quarterback in the country. Those accolades came at a national awards ceremony Friday, where Mendoza’s remarkable campaign with the Indiana Hoosiers was celebrated.
The Hoosiers enjoyed a historic 13–0 season under Mendoza’s leadership, culminating in their first Big Ten championship in decades and earning the program the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. During that run, Mendoza set an Indiana single-season record with 33 passing touchdowns, threw for 2,980 yards with a strong 71.5 percent completion rate, and accounted for 39 total touchdowns when his rushing scores are included.
His performance this season also made him a favorite for the Heisman Trophy, college football’s most prestigious individual honour, which was set to be awarded Saturday night in New York. Mendoza was listed among the Heisman finalists alongside standout players such as Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia.
Mendoza’s awards haul marked a significant milestone not just for him personally but for the Indiana football program, which has seen its profile rise dramatically in 2025. The Maxwell Award had only once before gone to a Hoosier — running back Anthony Thompson in 1989 — and Mendoza’s success underscores Indiana’s emergence as a national contender.
Other major award winners on the night included:
- Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech, who claimed both the Chuck Bednarik Award (nation’s top defensive player) and the Butkus Award as the best linebacker.
- Jeremiyah Love of Notre Dame, winner of the Doak Walker Award for top running back.
- Makai Lemon of USC, who took the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver.
- Coach of the Year honours went to Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, marking his second straight season recognised after leading the Hoosiers to unprecedented success..
Mendoza’s dual wins and his role in Indiana’s undefeated season have thrust him into the national spotlight. If he captures the Heisman, he would complete one of the most remarkable personal seasons in recent college football history — one that has not only broken records but also reenergised a program with deep aspirations on the sport’s biggest stage.
Summary: Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza dominated the 2025 College Football Awards by winning the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien honours after leading the Hoosiers to a perfect season, a Big Ten title and a No. 1 playoff seed, while also positioning himself as a favourite for the Heisman Trophy.
