Indiana junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza was recently named a Maxwell Award Semifinalist on Tuesday afternoon.
The Maxwell Award is presented to the College Player of the Year and is one of 13 semifinalists for the award.
For the season Indiana and Mendoza are 10-0, throwing for 181 completions of 254 attempts, 2,342 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He also has 56 carries, 240 rushing yards, 5 rushing TD's and has been sacked 10 times.
Mendoza is also a front runner and one of the favorites to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy. Mendoza (+165) is right behind Ohio State sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin (+160) and ahead of Alabama junior quarterback Ty Simpson (+500), Texas A&M junior quarterback Marcel Reed (+850). Other Heisman and Maxwell candidates include; Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), Gunner Stockon (Georgia, Arch Manning (Texas) and Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati). All odds according to FanDuel Sportsbook
Heisman voting ballots are distributed on Dec. 1 with the deadline for submission set for Dec. 8. The Big Ten Championship is Dec. 6th.
No. 15 is a Maxwell Award Semifinalist! pic.twitter.com/cVe5T4eIkf
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) November 11, 2025
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 voting panel is comprised of the Maxwell Football Club, Pro Football Focus (PFF), and Phil Steele Publications. Three Maxwell Award finalists will be unveiled Nov. 25 and the winner will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards show on Dec. 11. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 13, 2025, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mendoza and Indiana take on the Wisconisn Badgers (3-6) at Memorial Stadium in what could be the last game Fernando Mendoza plays in Bloomington as it is Senior Day for the Hoosiers.