BLOOMINGTON — Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza added two major conference trophies to his breakout season Thursday as the Big Ten named him both the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year and the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year.
Mendoza becomes the first Hoosier to win the league’s quarterback honor since its creation in 2011. The junior has rewritten portions of the Indiana record book this fall, throwing a program-best 32 touchdown passes while completing 72% of his throws. He has passed for 2,758 yards with just five interceptions and added six rushing touchdowns.
He is only the fourth Indiana player to be named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year — and the first since Antwaan Randle El in 2001. The other Hoosier recipients were Anthony Thompson, who won the award in 1988 and 1989.
Indiana’s award haul extended to the trenches as junior lineman Carter Smith was selected the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year, becoming the first player in program history to earn the distinction.
In all, a program-record 17 Hoosiers were named to the Big Ten’s first, second, or third teams this week, with Mendoza and Smith landing on the first team.
The second-ranked Hoosiers (12-0) now shift their focus to Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game, where they will meet top-ranked Ohio State (12-0) at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT in Indianapolis.
