- May 21, 2026
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Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has moved on to the NFL. But he has earned one more accolade for his accomplishments at the college level.
Mendoza was named the 2025-2026 Big Ten Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year, the conference announced on Wednesday.
Mendoza won the CFP national championship with Indiana to cap last season, also winning the Heisman Trophy for his performance for the Hoosiers.
He is the sixth student-athlete from Indiana to win the honor, the first since track and field’s Derek Drouin in 2013.
Mendoza became only the fourth player in the common draft era — and the first from the Big Ten — to win the Heisman, win a national championship, and then go No. 1 overall in the same season. He joined Joe Burrow, Jameis Winston, and Cam Newton in accomplishing that feat.
Mendoza’s next challenge will be earning the Raiders’ starting quarterback job. Mendoza and the rest of Las Vegas’ rookies will report to training camp on July 23.
Mendoza was named the 2025-2026 Big Ten Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year, the conference announced on Wednesday.
Mendoza won the CFP national championship with Indiana to cap last season, also winning the Heisman Trophy for his performance for the Hoosiers.
He is the sixth student-athlete from Indiana to win the honor, the first since track and field’s Derek Drouin in 2013.
Mendoza became only the fourth player in the common draft era — and the first from the Big Ten — to win the Heisman, win a national championship, and then go No. 1 overall in the same season. He joined Joe Burrow, Jameis Winston, and Cam Newton in accomplishing that feat.
Mendoza’s next challenge will be earning the Raiders’ starting quarterback job. Mendoza and the rest of Las Vegas’ rookies will report to training camp on July 23.