Indiana Hoosier linebacker Aiden Fisher is one of 20 semifinalists for the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award which honors the nation’s Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year, the Maxwell Football Club announced today.
The senior linebacker has 58 total tackles this season, including 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
The Hoosiers sit at 10-0 with two games remaining against Wisconsin on Saturday and Purdue on Nov. 28 — which are a combined 1-12 in conference play. It will be Fisher and the senior Hoosiers last game in Memorial Stadium as its "senior day" there last home game.
Aiden Fisher had an unbelievable first season as a Hoosier after transferring from James Madison. Fisher was named First Team All-American by the (FWAA) Football Writers Association of America, First Team All-Big Ten, Butkus Award Semi-Finalist, Capital One Orange Bowl and FWAA Courage Award Nominee while leading Indiana to a 11-2 record and College Football Playoff berth, boasting a top ten defense nationally.
.@theaidenfisher, Bednarik Award Semifinalist. pic.twitter.com/kOQclmmCYQ
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) November 11, 2025
The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, with several senior PFF analysts who are members of our selection committee.
Last season, the Bednarik Award was presented to Colorado defensive back Travis Hunter, who also won the Heisman Trophy in 2025. Hunter was selected second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars this past NFL Draft.
Semifinalist voting for both collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club will begin on Monday Nov. 17 and will close on Nov. 24. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 27, and a finalist round of voting will take place at that time. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors, and selected national media. All semifinalists are listed in alphabetical order by school, with the player's school, position, and class designated.
The winners of the 89th Maxwell Award and the 31st Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show, which will be broadcast live on ESPN on Thursday, December 11, 2025. The formal presentation of the Maxwell and Chuck Bednarik Awards will take place at the 89th Maxwell Awards Gala, which will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.