bloomington,IN – Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been named the Big Ten offensive Player of the Year,the conference announced Wednesday. Mendoza is the first Indiana player to receive the honor, which is named for former Indiana offensive linemen Dave Rimington and Orlando Pace.
Mendoza’s selection marks a historic achievement for the Indiana football programme under head coach Curt Cignetti. The award recognizes Mendoza’s outstanding performance throughout the 2024 season, leading a Hoosiers offense that saw meaningful improvement. He joins Cignetti, who was named Hayes-Schembechler Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, as individual award winners.
Alongside Mendoza, hoosiers linebacker Aaron Casey was named the Big Ten Defensive player of the Year, and kicker Nico Radicic earned the Bakken-Andersen Special Teams Player of the Year award. Both Mendoza and Casey were also named first-team All-Big Ten selections, leading a group of more than half a dozen Hoosiers recognized across 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.These selections add to the ten Hoosiers previously named to All-Big ten teams on either defense or special teams.
The Hoosiers finished the season with a winning record, signaling a positive trajectory for the program under Cignetti’s leadership. Mendoza’s award is expected to elevate the program’s profile and aid in future recruiting efforts.
