Maxwell Award Player of the Week/Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week

QB – Fernando Mendoza

Indiana

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been named the Maxwell Player of the Week after a near-perfect outing in the Hoosiers’ stunning 63-10 win over No. 9 Illinois in Bloomington. Mendoza was almost flawless through the air, completing over 90% of his passes, going 21 of 23 for 267 yards and five touchdowns, to power Indiana’s offense. His efficiency set the tone early, as he consistently found open receivers, including his number one target, Elijah Sarratt, nine times and kept the Illini defense on its heels. Behind Mendoza’s leadership, the Hoosiers delivered one of the most dominant wins in program history. It was a breakout performance on a national stage, showing just how dangerous Indiana can be with Mendoza in control of the offense.

LB – Jacob Rodriguez

Texas Tech

Jacob Rodriguez delivered a standout performance in Texas Tech’s 34–10 victory over Utah on Saturday, showcasing why he was named the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The linebacker was a disruptive force from the opening quarter, forcing a punch-out fumble and later sealing the game with a fourth-quarter interception of Utah quarterback Devon Dampier. Rodriguez racked up 11 tackles—five of them solo—along with half a tackle for loss, and his ability to read and react kept Utah’s offense off balance throughout the game. Rodriguez is one of the top takeaway creators in all of the FBS, with 8 forced turnovers over the span of his career so far. Texas Tech will look to continue the momentum after the bye week against the Houston Cougars.