Indiana University Athletics
Mendoza Part of O’Brien Watch List
8/7/2025 12:15:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – First-year Indiana football quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been named to the preseason watch list for Davey O'Brien Award.
The 35-player Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2025 will be announced on October 28, with semifinalists named on November 12. The Foundation will announce the three finalists on November 25. The 2025 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on December 11 during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
With 20 career games played and 19 starts over three seasons at Cal, Mendoza was the No. 14 overall prospect in the Transfer Portal and No. 3 quarterback per 247Sports for the 2025 cycle. He finished his career at Cal as the all-time leader in completion percentage (66.4%) and tied for No. 7 in 250-yard passing games (10). His 2024 season produced just the ninth 3,000-yard passing season in Cal history (3,004 yards) and a berth in the Las Vegas Bowl.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 49th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held February 16, 2026, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas. For more information, visit www.daveyobrienaward.com.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. The NCFAA's 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.
The 35-player Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2025 will be announced on October 28, with semifinalists named on November 12. The Foundation will announce the three finalists on November 25. The 2025 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on December 11 during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
With 20 career games played and 19 starts over three seasons at Cal, Mendoza was the No. 14 overall prospect in the Transfer Portal and No. 3 quarterback per 247Sports for the 2025 cycle. He finished his career at Cal as the all-time leader in completion percentage (66.4%) and tied for No. 7 in 250-yard passing games (10). His 2024 season produced just the ninth 3,000-yard passing season in Cal history (3,004 yards) and a berth in the Las Vegas Bowl.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 49th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held February 16, 2026, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas. For more information, visit www.daveyobrienaward.com.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. The NCFAA's 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.
Players Mentioned
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Saturday, October 25
FB: Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti - Week 9 (UCLA)
Thursday, October 23
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 9 (UCLA)
Wednesday, October 22
FB: Omar Cooper Jr. Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
