Player of the Week … Week 4, 2025 Season
This was one of the most anticipated home games for the Indiana Hoosiers in many years. Undefeated, No. 9-ranked Illinois was coming to Bloomington in what promised to be an exciting back-and-forth game between Big Ten leaders.
That contest never materialized largely due to Indiana’s quarterback Fernando Mendoza. For the game, the junior transfer from the University of California, completed 21 of 23 passes for 267 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. He led the team to 579 yards total offense, 31 first downs and at least two touchdowns scored in each quarter.
The result was a 63-10 Indiana runaway win, the Illini’s first victory over a Top 10 team in five years.
For his performance, Fernando Mendoza has been named the winner of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Award, Player of the Week.