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Add another award to Fernando Mendoza's trophy case.
The Big Ten announced on Wednesday the former Indiana University quarterback was named the Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year for the 2025-26 season. According to IU, Mendoza is the sixth Hoosier to earn the award and the second Indiana football player to receive the honor.
Mendoza led the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record and the school's first-ever football national championship. Along the way, he was named Indiana's first Heisman Trophy winner and earned numerous other player of the year honors.
In April, he was picked first overall in the NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, the second time a Hoosier was selected with the top pick.
The Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year Award was first handed out in 1982, when another Hoosier, track and cross country star Jim Spivey earned the honor. Another IU track and field standout, Sunder Nix, won the award in 1984, while Steve Alford won it for leading the Hoosier to the 1987 NCAA title in basketball and running back Anthony Thompson was named the winner in 1989.
Track and field athlete Derek Drouin was the most recent Hoosier to win the award when he was honored in 2013.
Continue reading...
The Big Ten announced on Wednesday the former Indiana University quarterback was named the Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year for the 2025-26 season. According to IU, Mendoza is the sixth Hoosier to earn the award and the second Indiana football player to receive the honor.
Mendoza led the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record and the school's first-ever football national championship. Along the way, he was named Indiana's first Heisman Trophy winner and earned numerous other player of the year honors.
In April, he was picked first overall in the NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, the second time a Hoosier was selected with the top pick.
The Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year Award was first handed out in 1982, when another Hoosier, track and cross country star Jim Spivey earned the honor. Another IU track and field standout, Sunder Nix, won the award in 1984, while Steve Alford won it for leading the Hoosier to the 1987 NCAA title in basketball and running back Anthony Thompson was named the winner in 1989.
Track and field athlete Derek Drouin was the most recent Hoosier to win the award when he was honored in 2013.
Continue reading...
