Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza wins Maxwell and Davey O’Brien awards ahead of possible Heisman victory

0 0 2 minutes read

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza wins Maxwell and Davey O’Brien awards ahead of possible Heisman victory

Was Friday night a preview of Saturday night’s Heisman Trophy ceremony?

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the Maxwell Player of the Year Award as well as the Davey O’Brien Award for Best Quarterback One Night before being a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. And to say Mendoza is a heavy favorite for the Heisman is an understatement.

As of Friday night, Mendoza is -2000 to win the Heisman on BetMGM. If you’re not familiar with the odds, you’ll win 50 cents on a $10 bet if Mendoza wins the Heisman on Saturday night.

Mendoza is one of four Heisman finalists along with Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Notre Dame RB Jeremiah Love and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin. Love and Sayin were the other two finalists for the Maxwell Prize on Friday night.

Mendoza is completing 226 of 316 passes for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns this season, with Indiana the only undefeated team at the highest level of college football. Mendoza leads the nation in touchdown passes — he’s second overall with 39 — while Indiana is the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff after beating Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.

Even though Mendoza won the Maxwell Award and was named the best quarterback, he didn’t win the most awards of any player on Friday night. That honor went to Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who won the Bronko Nagurski Award for Outstanding Defensive Player, the Butkus Award for Best Linebacker and the Bednarik Award for Best Defensive Player.

Rodriguez has 117 tackles and forced seven fumbles while Texas Tech’s defense is one of the best in the country. The Red Raiders won the Big 12 and are the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff. Tech could meet Indiana in the CFP semifinals if both teams win their quarterfinal matches.

Here is the list of Friday evening’s main winners. Saturday’s Heisman ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.

Davey O’Brien Award (Best QB): Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Biletnikoff Award (best receiver): Lemon Makai, USC
Outland Trophy (best interior lineman): Spencer Fano, Utah
Rimington Award (Best Center): Logan Jones, Iowa
Bronko Nagurski Award (Outstanding Defensive Player): Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Mackey Award (best tight end): Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back): Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Bednarik Award (best defensive player): Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Butkus Award (best linebacker): Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Doak Walker Award (best running back): Jeremiah Love, Notre Dame
Lou Groza Award (best kicker): Tate Sandell, Oklahoma
Ray Guy Award (best punter): Brett Thorson, Georgia
Maxwell Award (Player of the Year): Fernando Mendoza, Indiana