Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, Cignetti Win 2025 Walter Camp Awards Amid Historic Year

While all eyes will be on Saturday's Heisman Trophy celebration when Fernando Mendoza potentially takes home college football's most coveted individual award, the Indiana quarterback landed some hardware Wednesday.

Mendoza was named the Walter Camp Award winner as the nation's most outstanding player.

He wasn't the only Hoosier to be recognized for the program's 13-0 season that included a victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. Head coach Curt Cignetti was named the Walter Camp Coach of the Year, making him the first repeat winner in the award's history.

The turnaround Cignetti has engineered in two seasons with Indiana is nothing short of remarkable.

The program has historically struggled and went a combined 9-27 in the three seasons prior to his arrival. However, the Hoosiers reached the College Football Playoff last season and then followed up with an undefeated effort in 2025.

As a result, they landed the No. 1 overall seed in the 12-team CFP field and are realistic national championship contenders.

Indiana Wins Big Ten Title

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Cignetti's ability to convince Mendoza to transfer to Indiana from California is a major reason for this year's success. The Heisman Trophy favorite completed 71.5 percent of his passes for 2,980 yards, 33 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding 240 yards and six scores on the ground.

He was at his best in the most important moments, such as when he threw a game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute at Penn State and when he directed a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter of the win at Oregon.

The Big Ten title game against Ohio State's dominant defense was his final test, and he passed it with a go-ahead touchdown toss in the third quarter to finish a seven-play, 88-yard drive and then a 3rd-and-6 conversion in his own territory with just more than two minutes remaining to secure the win.

While both he and Cignetti surely have their eyes on some team hardware once the CFP starts, they were recognized for their incredible individual achievements Wednesday.