12/11/25 12:23:00
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12/11 12:21 CST Fernando Mendoza is AP player of the year after leading Indiana
to 13-0 record and top seed in CFP
Fernando Mendoza is AP player of the year after leading Indiana to 13-0 record
and top seed in CFP
By ERIC OLSON
AP College Football Writer
Fernando Mendoza was named Associated Press player of the year on Thursday
after leading unbeaten and top-ranked Indiana to its first Big Ten championship
since 1967 and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
The redshirt junior quarterback was the overwhelming choice over fellow Heisman
Trophy finalists Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt, Jeremiah Love of Notre Dame and
Julian Sayin of Ohio State. Mendoza received 32 of 51 first-place votes from a
nationwide panel of media members who cover college football. Pavia got nine to
lead the rest of the group, which also included Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech.
"I'm shining now but only because there are so many stars around me," Mendoza
said, describing his rise from lightly recruited high school prospect in 2021
to a candidate for the sport's most prestigious awards. "There's an analogy
that the only reason we're able to see stars in the sky is because the light
reflects from all different types of stars. I have so many stars around myself
--- whether it's my teammates, my coaches, my family, support staff --- that
I'm able to shine now in this light, and I'm so happy for everyone to be a part
of this."
Mendoza, the Hoosiers' first-year starter after transferring from California,
is the triggerman for an offense that has surpassed program records for
touchdowns and points set during last season's surprise run to the CFP.
Mendoza has thrown for a Bowl Subdivision-leading 33 touchdowns and run for
six, giving him a school-record 39 TDs accounted for.
He was the first Big Ten quarterback since 2000 with three straight games with
at least four TD passes and no interceptions. His 21-of-23, 267-yard,
five-touchdown passing day in a 63-10 win at Illinois in the conference opener
established him as a serious contender for national honors.
Mendoza is among 10 FBS quarterbacks who have completed better than 70% of
their passes. He ranks among the most accurate passers on attempts of at least
20 yards, hitting on 23 of 43 (53.5%), and when under pressure (52.1%),
according to Pro Football Focus.
Ranked the No. 72 quarterback prospect by ESPN when he was a senior at
Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Mendoza was pledged to Yale for
almost six months before he decommitted and signed with California.
He sat out as a redshirt in 2022 and won the starting job for the final eight
games in 2023. He was 10th in the nation in passing in 2024 and ranked among
the top transfer prospects after the season. He landed at Indiana, where his
brother Alberto Mendoza was the No. 3 quarterback last year. This year Alberto
is the top backup to his big brother.
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