On Friday night, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza made headlines by capturing both the Maxwell Award for Player of the Year and the Davey O’Brien Award for Best Quarterback. This event served as a prelude to what awaited at Saturday night’s Heisman Trophy ceremony, where Mendoza is a frontrunner for college football’s most prestigious individual honor.
BetMGM has him as a notable favorite, with odds of -2000, indicating a high level of confidence in his potential victory. To put this into perspective, a $10 bet on Mendoza would yield a mere 50 cents in profit if he secures the Heisman. He will be competing against three other finalists: Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, and Ohio State QB Julian Sayin, both of whom were also considered for the Maxwell Award.
This season, Mendoza’s performance has been nothing short of spectacular. He has completed 226 of 316 passes for a total of 2,980 yards and 33 touchdown passes, which puts him at the top of the country in touchdown passes and second in overall touchdowns with 39. His efforts have led Indiana to an undefeated season, making them the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff after a remarkable victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game.
Despite Mendoza’s achievements, he wasn’t the only player to garner attention on the awards night. Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez took home multiple honors, including the Bronko Nagurski Award for Outstanding Defensive Player, the Butkus Award for Best Linebacker, and the Bednarik Award for Best Defensive Player. Rodriguez has made a significant impact with 117 tackles and seven forced fumbles, contributing to Texas Tech’s defensive prowess. The Red Raiders clinched the Big 12 title and currently hold the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff, setting the stage for a potential matchup with Indiana in the semifinal round if both teams prevail in their quarterfinal games.
A comprehensive list of the major award winners from Friday’s event reflects the depth of talent in college football this season:
- Davey O’Brien Award (Best QB): Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
- Biletnikoff Award (Best Receiver): Makai Lemon, USC
- Outland Trophy (Best Interior Lineman): Spencer Fano, Utah
- Rimington Award (Best Center): Logan Jones, Iowa
- Bronko Nagurski Award (Outstanding Defensive Player): Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
- Mackey Award (Best Tight End): Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
- Jim Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Back): Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player): Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
- Butkus Award (Best Linebacker): Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
- Doak Walker Award (Best Running Back): Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- Lou Groza Award (Best Kicker): Tate Sandell, Oklahoma
- Ray Guy Award (Best Punter): Brett Thorson, Georgia
- Maxwell Award (Player of the Year): Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
The Heisman ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, bringing further anticipation for college football fans eager to witness who will take home the top honor.
