Six Big Ten Standouts Take Home a Combined 11 National Awards
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Six Big Ten standouts took home a combined 11 national awards this season, highlighted by Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza capturing the Heisman Memorial Trophy. The Hoosier quarterback’s accolade marks the 30th Heisman winner overall from a current or former Big Ten institution (including the University of Chicago), and first since 2022.
Additionally, Ohio State’s Archie Griffin was honored with the NCFAA Contributions Award, which recognizes individuals who have made exceptional and lasting contributions to college football.
The full list of award winners can be found below:
CURT CIGNETTI, INDIANA
· The Home Depot Coach of The Year Award
· Walter Camp Coach of The Year Award
FERNANDO MENDOZA, INDIANA
LOGAN JONES, IOWA
CALEB DOWNS, OHIO STATE
ARCHIE GRIFFIN, OHIO STATE
· NCFAA Contributions Award
MAKAI LEMON, USC
Three Big Ten teams were selected to participate in the 12-team College Football Playoff: Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon.
Fifth-ranked Oregon leads off the Big Ten CFP lineup on Saturday, Dec. 20, when the Ducks host No. 12 seed JMU in first-round action at Autzen Stadium. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by TNT. A win would send Oregon to the Orange Bowl against Texas Tech on Jan. 1 at noon ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
The top-ranked Hoosiers and No. 2-seeded Buckeyes both earned first-round byes and will compete in the Rose Bowl and Cotton Bowl Classic, respectively. Indiana will face the winner of No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Oklahoma on Jan. 1 at 4 p.m. ET at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif., while Ohio State faces the winner of No. 10 Miami vs. No. 7 Texas A&M on Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.