Indiana Football Sweeps 2025 Walter Camp Player and Coach of Year Awards; 5th time since 1967 one school takes both awards
For the fifth time since 1967, one school earned the Walter Camp Player and Coach of Year awards.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was selected as the 2025 Walter Camp Player of Year, and head coach Curt Cignetti was named as the Coach of the Year (also won it in 2024).
One School Earns Walter Camp Player and Coach of Year in Same Season
2025 – Indiana (Fernando Mendoza, POY; Curt Cignetti, COY
2018 – Alabama (Tua Tagovailoa, POY; Nick Saban, COY)
2012 – Notre Dame (Manti Te’o, POY; Brian Kelly, COY)
2000 – Oklahoma (Josh Heupel, POY; Bob Stoops, COY)
1986 – Miami (Vinny Testaverde, POY; Jimmy Johnson, COY)
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza Selected 2025 Walter Camp Player of the Year, presented by Crabtree Lexus of New Haven
Indiana University junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza (Miami, FL) has been selected as the 2025 Walter Camp Player of Year, presented by Crabtree Lexus of New Haven.
The award was announced on ESPN’s College Football Live.
The Walter Camp Player of Year is voted on by the nation’s 136 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports communicators. Other finalists for the 2025 Walter Camp Player of Year include running back Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame), linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech) and quarterbacks Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) and Julian Sayin (Ohio State).
The 59th recipient of the Walter Camp Player of Year award, Mendoza is the second Indiana player to win the prestigious honor, joining the former Hoosier running back Anthony Thompson (1989). Mendoza is also the 24th quarterback to win the award.
Mendoza has led the top-ranked Hoosiers to a 13-0 mark this season. On December 6, he passed for 222 yards and one touchdown as Indiana captured its first-ever Big Ten Championship with a 13-10 victory over Ohio State.
The Hoosiers will await the Oklahoma/Alabama winner in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals on Jan. 1 at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
For the season, Mendoza has thrown for 2,980 yards, completing 71.5 percent (226-of-316) of his passes. He also set a school season record with 33 touchdown passes. He ranks second in the nation with a 181.40 passing efficiency rating.
He has thrown for 200 or more yards in a game nine times this season, including a season-high 332 (24-of-28, 4 touchdowns) in a win over Michigan State on Oct. 18. Mendoza has also rushed for six touchdowns.
Mendoza’s signature moment came in a comeback win at Penn State on Nov. 8, when he led a 77-yard drive culminating with a game-winning seven-yard touchdown strike to Omar Cooper with 35 seconds remaining.
Mendoza was named the Big Ten’s Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year and Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year. He is the first Hoosier to earn the conference’s quarterback of the year honor since its inception in 2011.
Mendoza came to Indiana following two seasons at California, where he threw for 4,712 yards and 30 touchdowns. A native of Miami, Fla., Mendoza played scholastically at Christopher Columbus High School.
Walter Camp Player of Year Facts
- First awarded in 1967, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the 59th recipient of the Walter Camp Player of Year award.
- Mendoza is the 24th quarterback to win the award. There have been 25 running backs, five wide receivers, one wide receiver/defensive back, one tight end and three defensive players.
- Colorado’s Travis Hunter (2024) was the first two-way player to win the award.
- Three players – USC’s OJ. Simpson (1967, 1968), Ohio State’s Archie Griffin (1974, 1975) and Texas’ Colt McCoy (2008, 2009) have been multiple winners.
- Three defensive players have won the award – Pittsburgh’s Hugh Green (1980), Michigan’s Charles Woodson (1997) and Notre Dame’s Manti Teo (2012).
- Players from 26 different schools have earned the award. USC has won the most Player of Year awards (7), followed by Oklahoma, Ohio State and Notre Dame with four each.
Walter Camp Players of the Year, presented by Crabtree Lexus of New Haven
2025 – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2024 – Travis Hunter, WR/DB, Colorado
2023 – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
2022 – Caleb Williams, QB, USC
2021 – Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
2020 – DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
2019 – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
2018 – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
2017 – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
2016 – Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
2015 – Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
2014 – Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
2013 – Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2012 – Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame
2011 – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2010 – Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
2009 – Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
2008 – Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
2007 – Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
2006 – Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State
2005 – Reggie Bush, RB, USC
2004 – Matt Leinart, QB, USC
2003 – Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh
2002 – Larry Johnson, RB, Penn State
2001 – Eric Crouch, QB, Nebraska
2000 – Josh Heupel, QB, Oklahoma
1999 – Ron Dayne, RB, Wisconsin
1998 – Ricky Williams, RB, Texas
1997 – Charles Woodson, DB, Michigan
1996 – Danny Wuerffel, QB, Florida
1995 – Eddie George, RB, Ohio State
1994 – Rashaan Salaam, RB, Colorado
1993 – Charlie Ward, QB, Florida State
1992 – Gino Torretta, QB, Miami
1991 – Desmond Howard, WR, Michigan
1990 – Raghib Ismail, WR, Notre Dame
1989 – Anthony Thompson, RB, Indiana
1988 – Barry Sanders, RB, Oklahoma State
1987 – Tim Brown, WR, Notre Dame
1986 – Vinny Testaverde, QB, Miami
1985 – Bo Jackson, RB, Auburn
1984 – Doug Flutie, QB, Boston College
1983 – Mike Rozier, RB, Nebraska
1982 – Herschel Walker, RB, Georgia
1981 – Marcus Allen, RB, USC
1980 – Hugh Green, DE, Pittsburgh
1979 – Charles White, RB, USC
1978 – Billy Sims, RB, Oklahoma
1977 – Ken MacAfee, TE, Notre Dame
1976 – Tony Dorsett, RB, Pittsburgh
1975 – Archie Griffin, RB, Ohio State
1974 – Archie Griffin, RB, Ohio State
1973 – John Cappelletti, RB, Penn State
1972 – Johnny Rodgers, RB, Nebraska
1971 – Pat Sullivan, QB, Auburn
1970 – Jim Plunkett, QB, Stanford
1969 – Steve Owens, RB, Oklahoma
1968 – O.J. Simpson, RB, USC
1967 – O.J. Simpson, RB, USC
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information. The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients dating back to 1935.
About Crabtree Lexus of New Haven
Crabtree Lexus of New Haven is located at 655 Main Street in East Haven, CT, convenient from anywhere in the Northeast directly off of I-95. Visit them at https://www.CrabtreeLexus.com
About Lexus
Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With eight models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers nine F SPORT models, one F performance model and one F model. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.
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Indiana’s Curt Cignetti Selected 2025 Walter Camp FBS Coach of the Year; First Coach to Repeat as Winner
Indiana University’s Curt Cignetti has been selected as the Walter Camp 2025 Football Bowl Subdivision Coach of the Year. It is the second straight year Cignetti has won the award – becoming the first coach in 59 years to repeat as winner.
The Walter Camp Coach of the Year is selected by the nation’s 136 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports communicators.
Other finalists for the award were Ryan Day (Ohio State) and Clark Lea (Vanderbilt).
Cignetti is the second coach from Indiana (John Pont, 1967) to earn the award. Cignetti is the fifth coach to win multiple times, joining Joe Paterno (Penn State; 2005, 1994, 1972), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma, 2003 and 2000), Nick Saban (Alabama; 2018 and 2008) and Gary Patterson (TCU, 2014 and 2009).
Under Cignetti’s leadership, the top-ranked Hoosiers have recorded a 13-0 mark this season. On December 6, Indiana captured its first-ever Big Ten Championship with a 13-10 victory over Ohio State at Lucas Oil Stadium.
As a result, the Hoosiers earned the College Football Playoff’s top seed and await the Oklahoma/Alabama winner in the CFP quarterfinals on Jan. 1 at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
Indiana started off the season as the No. 20 team in the country, but a 63-10 win over then-No. 9 Illinois, a road win at Iowa, and 30-20 road win over Oregon propelled the Hoosiers into the top five. With six straight wins after Oregon, the Hoosiers finished the season undefeated at 12-0 with the No. 2 ranking behind only Ohio State. Led by quarterback and 2025 Walter Camp Player of Year Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers earned its first league title since 1945, and first win against the Buckeyes since 1988.
For the second straight year, Cignetti was named the Hayes-Schembechler Big Ten Coach of the Year (as selected by his fellow conference coaches) and the Dave McClain Coach of the Year (by the media that covers the Big Ten).
In 2024, Indiana was picked to finish 16th in the Big Ten preseason media poll and proceeded to set a then-record with 11 wins and earned its first ever College Football Playoff berth.
Cignetti was named head football coach at Indiana University on November 30, 2023. He previously held head coaching positions Indiana University of Pennsylvania (2011-16), Elon (2017-2018) and James Madison (2019-2023). His current career record stands at 143–37 (.794).
He was the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2012 (at IUP), the Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 2017 (at Elon) and Sun Belt Coach of the Year in 2023 (at James Madison).
After graduating from West Virginia, Cignetti began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Pitt in 1983 under Foge Fazio. He has also coached at Davidson College, Rice University, Temple University, a return to Pitt and then stints at North Carolina State and the University of Alabama.
Cignetti and his wife, Manette, have three children, Curt Jr., Carly Ann, and Natalie Elise. Cignetti’s father, Frank Cignetti Sr., won 199 games as a head coach at West Virginia University and IUP and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Walter Camp Coach of Year Facts
- First awarded in 1967, Indiana’s Curt Cignetti is the 59th recipient of the Walter Camp Coach of Year award. He is also the first coach to repeat as the winner.
- Cignetti is the second IU coach to win the award, joining John Pont (1967).
- Cignetti becomes the fifth coach to win the award multiple times, joining Joe Paterno (Penn State; 2005, 1994, 1972), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma, 2003 and 2000), Nick Saban (Alabama; 2018 and 2008) and Gary Patterson (TCU, 2014 and 2009).
- Coaches from 40 different schools have earned the award. Six schools have had three winners – Alabama, Indiana, Penn State, Oklahoma, LSU and TCU.
Walter Camp Coaches of the Year
2025 – Curt Cignetti, Indiana
2024 – Curt Cignetti, Indiana
2023 – Kalen DeBoer, Washington
2022 – Sonny Dykes, TCU
2021 – Luke Fickell, Cincinnati
2020 – Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina
2019 – Ed Orgeron, LSU
2018 – Nick Saban, Alabama
2017 – Mark Richt, Miami
2016 – Mike MacIntyre, Colorado
2015 – Dabo Swinney, Clemson
2014 – Gary Patterson, TCU
2013 – David Cutcliffe, Duke
2012 – Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
2011 – Les Miles, LSU
2010 – Chip Kelly, Oregon
2009 – Gary Patterson, TCU
2008 – Nick Saban, Alabama
2007 – Mark Mangino, Kansas
2006 – Greg Schiano, Rutgers
2005 – Joe Paterno, Penn State
2004 – Tommy Tuberville, Auburn
2003 – Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
2002 – Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
2001 – Ralph Friedgen, Maryland
2000 – Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
1999 – Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
1998 – Bill Synder, Kansas State
1997 – Lloyd Carr, Michigan
1996 – Bruce Snyder, Arizona State
1995 – Gary Barnett, Northwestern
1994 – Joe Paterno, Penn State
1993 – Terry Bowden, Auburn
1992 – Gene Stallings, Alabama
1991 – Bobby Bowden, Florida State
1990 – Bobby Ross, Georgia Tech
1989 – Bill McCartney, Colorado
1988 – Don Nehlen, West Virginia
1987 – Dick MacPherson, Syracuse
1986 – Jimmy Johnson, Miami
1985 – Fisher DeBerry, Air Force
1984 – Joe Morrison, South Carolina
1983 – Mike White, Illinois
1982 – Jerry Stovall, Louisiana State
1981 – Jackie Sherrill, Pittsburgh
1980 – Vince Dooley, Georgia
1979 – John Mackovic, Wake Forest
1978 – Warren Powers, Missouri
1977 – Lou Holtz, Arkansas
1976 – Frank R. Burns, Rutgers
1975 – Frank Kush, Arizona State
1974 – Barry Switzer, Oklahoma
1973 – Johnny Majors, Pittsburgh
1972 – Joe Paterno, Penn State
1971 – Bob Devaney, Nebraska
1970 – Bob Blackman, Dartmouth
1969 – Bo Schembechler, Michigan
1968 – Woody Hayes, Ohio State
1967 – John Pont, Indiana
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2025 Walter Camp FBS Coach of Year Finalists Announced – Cignetti (Indiana), Day (Ohio State), Lea (Vanderbilt)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the three finalists for its 2025 Football Bowl Subdivision Coach of the Year award. The Walter Camp Coach of the Year is selected by the 136 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports communicators, and will be announced on Wednesday, December 10.
The 2024 Walter Camp Coach of the Year, Coach Cignetti has led the Hoosiers to a 12-0 record and a berth in the 2025 Big Ten Conference Championship game. Cignetti was the 2024 Walter Camp Coach of the Year.
Coach Day has led the defending national champion Buckeyes to a 12-0 record in 2025, and its second straight appearance in the Big Ten Conference championship game.
Coach Lea has led the Commodores to an impressive 10-2 record, marking the first time in program history that Vanderbilt football achieved a 10-win season.
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients dating back to 1935.
Previous Walter Camp Coach of Year winners — https://waltercamp.org/coach-of-the-year/
2025 Walter Camp FBS Player of Year Finalists – Jeremiyah Love, Fernando Mendoza, Diego Pavia, Jacob Rodriguez and Julian Sayin
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the five finalists for its 2025 Football Bowl Subdivision Player of the Year award, the fourth-oldest college football award in the nation. The Walter Camp Player of the Year award is presented by Crabtree Lexus of New Haven.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin are the five finalists.
The Walter Camp Player of the Year is selected by the 136 FBS head coaches and sports communicators and will be announced on ESPN’s College Football Live on Wednesday, December 10.
Walter Camp Player of Year FINALISTS
JEREMIYAH LOVE, Junior, RB, NOTRE DAME
Has rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns for the 10-2 Fighting Irish… has 27 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns… Has rushed for 100+ yards in a game six times this season.
FERNANDO MENDOZA, Junior, QB, INDIANA
Has completed 72.0 percent of this passes (211-of-293) for 2,758 yards and 32 touchdowns for the 12-0 Hoosiers… Has rushed for 243 yards and six touchdowns. Has thrown for 200+ yards in a game nine times this season.
DIEGO PAVIA, Graduate Student, QB, VANDERBILT
Has completed 242-of-340 passes for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns for the 10-2 Commodores… Has rushed for 826 yards and nine touchdowns… Has thrown for 200+ yards in a game seven times this season.
JACOB RODRIGUEZ, Senior, LB, TEXAS TECH
Has recorded 104 tackles (57 solo) for the 11-1 Red Raiders this season… Has forced seven fumbles and four interceptions on the season. Has posted 10+ tackles in a game five times this season.
JULIAN SAYIN, Sophomore, QB, OHIO STATE
Has completed 78.9 percent (258-of-327) of his passes for 3,065 yards and 30 touchdowns for the 12-0 Buckeyes. Has passed for 200 or more yards eight times this season.
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients dating back to 1935.
About Crabtree Lexus of New Haven
Crabtree Lexus of New Haven is located at 655 Main Street in East Haven, CT, convenient from anywhere in the Northeast directly off of I-95. Visit them at https://www.CrabtreeLexus.com
About Lexus
Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With eight models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers nine F SPORT models, one F performance model and one F model. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.
Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss and Penn State’s Amare Campbell Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 14 (Dec. 2)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending November 29.
About the Award: This is the 22nd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season. It is the nation’s longest running Player of Week award.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior, Quarterback, Grand Rapids, MI
Trinidad Chambliss completed 23-of-34 passes for 359 yards and four touchdowns as No. 7 Ole Miss (11-1, 7-1 in SEC) defeated Mississippi State, 38-19, in the Egg Bowl. It was Chambless’ seventh 300-yard passing game and he earned SEC Co-Offensive Player of Week honors.
Notes: It is the 15th time since 2004 (and second time this season – LB Anthony Hill, Oct. 27) that a Texas player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior, Linebacker, Manassas, VA
Amare Campbell posted a game-high 14 tackles (5 solo) and 0.5 quarterback sacks as Penn State became bowl eligible with a 40-36 victory at Rutgers. Campbell’s fourth-quarter fumble recovery, which he returned 61 yards for a touchdown, was the game-winning score.
Notes: It is the 11th time since 2004 (and first since defensive Abdul Carter, Nov. 12, 2024) that a Penn State player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
