Indiana football had two players named to the Maxwell Award Watchlist on Monday, in junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza and senior wide receiver Elijah Sarratt.
The Hoosiers are just one of just 16 programs to have multiple players on the preseason watch list.
Semifinalists will be announced November 11 and the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 25. The winner of the 89th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN College Football Awards Show held on December 11.
On the watch list for most outstanding player. pic.twitter.com/LdxJB0qhDm
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) July 28, 2025
Mendoza in his 2024 season with the California Golden Bears, threw for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns, with 6 interceptions. He ran for105 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground.
Sarratt was the go to wideout for the Hoosiers in 2024, with 53 receptions, 957 yards, 18.1-yard per catch average, 8 total touchdowns.
Below is the release from the Maxwell Football Club
The Maxwell Football Club today announced its watch list for the 89th Maxwell Award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football. The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937. It is named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, who was a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official.
The Maxwell Award watch list will once again incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast, led by 2 returning semifinalists, Cade Klubnik – Clemson and Diego Pavia – Vanderbilt. The full list consists of 80 players, with Penn State leading the way with 3 candidates and an additional 16 schools having two players represented. The SEC and ACC boast 17 candidates, followed by the Big12 (15) and Big10 (14).
Last season's Maxwell Award winner was Ashton Jeanty, from Boise State, he also finished second in the Heisman Trophy race and was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 1st round of the NFL draft.
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell who was a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official.