Dec. 4, 2025, 12:09 p.m. ET
- Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was named the Big Ten’s offensive player and quarterback of the year.
- Carter Smith, Indiana’s left tackle, earned the conference’s offensive lineman of the year award.
- Five other Hoosiers on offense received second or third-team all-conference recognition.
BLOOMINGTON — Indiana landed another haul of all-conference honors Thursday, when the league announced its offensive honorees during a mid-day program on the Big Ten Network.
Most notably, Fernando Mendoza was named offensive player of the year and quarterback of the year in the conference, while his left tackle, Carter Smith, landed offensive lineman of the year honors.
Officially, Mendoza won the Graham-George Player of the Year award, named for Otto Graham and Eddie George, as well as the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year award, named for Bob Griese and Drew Brees. Smith won the Rimington-Pace offensive lineman of the year award, named for Dave Rimington and Orlando Pace.
Both players also landed first-team All-Big Ten honors, leading the way for more than a half-dozen Hoosiers split between the first, second and third teams.
Wide receivers Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper, tight end Riley Nowakowski and center Pat Coogan were named second-team all-conference, while running back Roman Hemby landed on the third team.
They join the 10 Hoosiers named to All-Big Ten teams Wednesday on either defense or special teams, while Mendoza and Smith join their coach, Curt Cignetti, as individual award winners.
Cignetti was on Wednesday named Hayes-Schembechler Big Ten coach of the year for the second consecutive season.
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