12/12/25 06:30:00
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12/12 18:29 CST Indiana's Fernando Mendoza adds another major award with Davey
O'Brien as nation's top QB
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza adds another major award with Davey O'Brien as
nation's top QB
BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) --- Indiana's Fernando Mendoza has won the Davey O'Brien
Award as the nation's top quarterback, the second of what could be three major
honors in as many days with the redshirt junior also heavily favored to win the
Heisman Trophy.
Mendoza was the first winner announced during ESPN's college awards show Friday
night. The Heisman winner will be named Saturday night in New York, and Mendoza
is an overwhelming favorite to take the trophy, according to BetMGM.
The O'Brien honor came a day after Mendoza was named The Associated Press
player of the year.
The California transfer led the Hoosiers to a 13-0 record, a victory over Ohio
State in the Big Ten championship game and the top seed in the College Football
Playoff. Indiana's first O'Brien winner set a program record with 33 touchdown
passes.
"It's a wonderful feeling. I really doesn't feel real," Mendoza said from New
York. "It's a testament to so many people who believed in me, who have helped
groom me into the player I am today and all those people, especially before
anybody knew my name."
Mendoza was chosen over Ohio State freshman Julian Sayin and Texas A&M's Marcel
Reed, two other quarterbacks getting ready to lead their teams in the CFP.
Southern California's Makai Lemon was named the Fred Biletnikoff Award winner
as the nation's top receiver. He was in the top 10 nationally with 1,156 yards
receiving and 11 touchdowns. His four games with at least 150 yards were tied
for the most in FBS.
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