After 22 college football award winners were recognized Friday, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy — given to the top player in the sport — in New York City on Saturday to wrap up the FBS awards season.

Heisman Trophy

Since 1935, the award has been given to the country’s top player. Mendoza became the first Indiana player to win the Heisman Trophy. He led the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten championship since 1967 and first No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

Winner
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Bronko Nagurski Trophy

Since 1993, the Bronco Nagurski Trophy has been awarded to the nation’s best defensive player. It is voted on by the Football Writers Association of America. Monday night, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was announced as the 2025 winner. He is the first Red Raider to win the award and the first Big 12 Player since 2009. Rodriguez leads the FBS with seven forced fumbles.

Winner
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

Butkus Award

The nation’s top linebacker receives the Butkus Award. Rodriguez was announced as the winner a day ahead of Texas Tech’s Big 12 title game victory, his first of two awards in a span of three days.

Winner
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

This award is given to the best upper-class collegiate quarterback in the country. Pavia became the first player in Vanderbilt history to receive the honor. Pavia has thrown for nearly 3,200 yards and 27 touchdowns, while also rushing for 826 yards and nine scores.

Winner
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

Chuck Bednarik Award

This award is named after Philadelphia Eagles two-way star Chuck Bednarik, who was a 10-time All-Pro in the 1950s and 1960s. Playing linebacker and center, he was nicknamed “Concrete Charlie.” The award is given to the nation’s top defensive player.

Winner
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

Biletnikoff Award

The best wide receiver in the country receives the Biletnikoff Award. Fred Biletnikoff was an All-American wide receiver at Florida State before a 14-year NFL career with the Oakland Raiders.

Winner
Makai Lemon, USC

Maxwell Award

The Maxwell Award honors the player of the year in college football. Robert “Tiny” Maxwell was an All-American at the University of Chicago in the early 1900s and later was a referee and a reporter.

Winner
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award

The award given to the nation’s best signal caller is named after 1938 Heisman Trophy winner Davey O’Brien. He was an All-American at TCU, winning a 1938 national championship. After two seasons with the Eagles, with whom he was the NFL passing leader in 1939, O’Brien retired to become an FBI agent.

Winner
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Lou Groza Award

The Lou Groza Award honors the country’s best place kicker. Groza was a kicker and offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns who won four NFL championships in the 1950s and 1960s. The Hall of Famer was the NFL’s leading scorer in 1957.

Winner
Tate Sandell, Oklahoma

Ray Guy Award

The best collegiate punter in FBS is honored with the Ray Guy Award. Guy was an All-American at Southern Miss and is the only pure punter ever to be drafted in the first round. He spent 14 seasons with the Raiders, winning three Super Bowls.

Winner
Brett Thorson, Georgia

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award

The award is given to the country’s best defensive back and honors Jim Thorpe, a multisport athlete who was the first Native American to win a gold medal at the Olympics. Thorpe played 12 seasons of pro football from 1915 to 1928 and is a Hall of Famer.

Winner
Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Doak Walker Award

Walker was an All-American running back at SMU in the late 1940s, winning the Heisman in 1948. He spent six seasons with the Detroit Lions, winning two NFL titles and earning four first-team All-Pro honors.

Winner
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Outland Trophy

The Outland Trophy is awarded to the nation’s best interior lineman, either on offense or defense. Dr. John H. Outland was an offensive lineman in the 1890s for Penn and later earned a degree from Penn Medical School. He believed linemen deserved more appreciation. Spencer Fano is Utah’s first Outland Trophy winner.

Winner
Spencer Fano, Utah

Lombardi Award

Created in honor of legendary head coach Vince Lombardi, the award is given to the best lineman or linebacker in the country.

Winner
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

Walter Payton Award

This award is given to the best offensive player in the FCS every season. Payton was a star at FCS program Jackson State before his Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Bears.

Finalists
Beau Brungard, Youngstown State
Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
Cole Payton, North Dakota State

Harlon Hill Trophy

The best player in Division II is given this honor. Hill was a standout defensive player for then-Florence State (now North Alabama) before a successful eight-year career with the Chicago Bears.

Finalists
Curtis Allen, Virginia Union
Judd Novak, Kutztown
Reed Charpia, Newberry
Marcus Stokes, West Florida
Jack Strand, MSU Moorhead
Gavin Sukup, UIndy
Andrew Miller, Harding
Drew Nash, Western Colorado

Gagliardi Trophy

This is the most prestigious award in Division III, given to the best player in the country. John Gagliardi coached at Saint John’s (Minn.) for 60 years from 1953 to 2012, winning 27 conference titles and four national championships. Fifteen semifinalists were announced last week, including UW-River Falls’ Kaleb Blaha, the nation’s leader in passing yards (3,753).