The Scarlet and Gray

[toysoldier00]

Ohio State’s Matt Patricia Wins Broyles Award After Transforming Buckeyes Defense
By Zachary Anderson on December 12, 2025


Ohio State had the nation's top defense in 2025, and new D.C. Matt Patricia was rewarded with the Broyles.



Matt Patricia's hiring as Ohio State defensive coordinator was met with skepticism in Columbus. On Friday night, it was validated at the highest level.

Patricia won the Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football, after engineering the nation’s best defense for an undefeated Ohio State team that enters the Playoff as the No. 1 seed.

Patricia, who spent the previous year out of football before Ryan Day hired him, has authored one of the sport’s most dramatic turnarounds in perception. What looked like a risky move in the offseason now reads as one of the smartest calls of the year. Led by stars such as Caleb Downs and Arvell Reese, Ohio State’s defense became the backbone of the Buckeyes’ championship push.

The numbers tell the story. Ohio State led the nation in both scoring defense (12.2 points allowed per game) and total defense (271.1 yards allowed per game). Even more defining was its run defense: just 47.8 rushing yards allowed per game and only 2.0 yards per carry, a level of week-to-week dominance that erased opponents’ identities before games could settle in.

Beyond the raw production, Patricia’s unit repeatedly swung momentum early with takeaways and game-changing sequences, helping Ohio State seize control in marquee matchups.

Patricia becomes the fourth Buckeye to win a major national award Friday night, joining Downs (Thorpe Award), Jeremiah Smith (Biletnikoff Award) and Reese (Butkus Award).

James Madison offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy finished second in Broyles voting, while Indiana offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan finished third.

 

[toysoldier00]

Fernando Mendoza Headlines College Football Awards Night as Indiana, Ohio State and Notre Dame Shine

Marissa Bleday
December 12, 2025


The biggest winner Friday night at the College Football Awards Banquet was Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who turned one of the sport’s most remarkable seasons into a trophy haul that now puts an even brighter spotlight on Saturday night’s Heisman ceremony.

Mendoza, the engine behind Indiana’s 12-1 surge back into the national title conversation, won the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award and the Davey O’Brien Award, capping a regular season in which he emerged from star to centerpiece. He finished the year completing 346 of 503 passes for 4,253 yards, 33 touchdowns and just two interceptions, while adding 442 rushing yards and five scores.

South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown finished second for the Maxwell and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, while Ohio State’s Julian Sayin placed third for the Davey O’Brien and second for the Shaun Alexander Award. North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker, meanwhile, won the Shaun Alexander Award after a breakout campaign that featured 3,925 passing yards, 34 touchdown passes and seven rushing scores.

Indiana and Ohio State Lead the Night’s Major Storylines

Indiana’s banner season extended beyond Mendoza. Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti won the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award after leading Indiana to a 12-1 record and back into the playoff spotlight. James Madison’s Bob Chesney finished second, with Ohio State’s Ryan Day third after guiding the Buckeyes to 13-0 and the nation’s last unbeaten record.

Ohio State had one of the strongest all-around nights of any program in the country. Safety Caleb Downs won the Jim Thorpe Award, linebacker Arvell Reese took home the Dick Butkus Award, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith won the Biletnikoff Award, and Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia captured the Broyles Award.

Downs’ Thorpe win came after a season in which he posted 86 tackles, 10 TFLs, one sack, one interception, 10 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns. Reese, one of the nation’s most complete linebackers, finished with 82 tackles, 15 TFLs, two sacks, three interceptions, 11 PBUs, two forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown, beating out Notre Dame’s Drayk Bowen and Georgia’s CJ Allen for the Butkus honor.

Smith’s Biletnikoff victory was equally decisive after a dominant season: 96 catches, 1,296 yards and 15 touchdowns. Southern Miss’ Elijah Metcalf and Alabama’s Ryan Williams finished second and third, respectively.

Defensive Awards Split Between Notre Dame, Miami and Texas Tech

If Mendoza was the face of the offensive awards, the defensive categories were defined by star power and fierce competition.

Notre Dame linebacker Drayk Bowen won the Chuck Bednarik Award, edging Miami edge rusher Reuben Bain Jr. and Texas Tech edge David Bailey. Bowen’s production was elite across the board: 131 tackles, 17 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 83 solo tackles, nine PBUs and a forced fumble.

Bailey, however, was impossible to ignore, and he left with multiple major honors. The Texas Tech star won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Edge Rusher of the Year Award, finishing ahead of Downs and Bowen for the Nagurski and ahead of Bain and Ohio State’s Caden Curry for edge rusher honors. Bailey’s final line was absurd: 46 tackles, 27 TFLs and 19 sacks, plus a forced fumble. His 19 sacks made him one of the most destructive defenders in the country all season.

Bain, meanwhile, won the Lombardi Award, topping Bailey and Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei. Bain’s stat line backed it up: 54 tackles, 27 TFLs, 16.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries for a Miami defense that became one of the nation’s most feared front units.

Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Georgia Claim Key Skill and Specialist Honors

Notre Dame added another major trophy when running back Jeremiyah Love won the Doak Walker Award after rushing 225 times for 1,586 yards and 17 touchdowns, while adding 15 catches for 84 yards and a receiving score. Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy finished second, with Western Michigan’s Jalen Buckley third.

Texas A&M tight end Amari Niblack won the John Mackey Award, giving the Aggies one of the night’s biggest offensive position wins. Niblack finished with 70 receptions for 817 yards and six touchdowns, beating out Texas Tech’s Terrance Carter Jr. and North Texas’ Tre Williams III.

Georgia kicker Peyton Woodring won the Lou Groza Award after a high-volume, high-difficulty season that included a 30-for-37 mark on field goals, perfect kicking under 50 yards (22-for-22), and eight made kicks from 50-plus, including a long of 62. Miami’s Bert Auburn and Toledo’s Dylan Cunanan finished behind him.

The Big Men and Specialists Get Their Moment

Boston College guard Logan Taylor won the Outland Trophy after a dominant season in protection, allowing zero sacks over 903 snaps. Army center Brady Small finished second for the Outland and then won the Rimington Award, giving him a well-deserved headline moment after a zero-sack season across 751 snaps. Auburn’s Connor Lew and Michigan State’s Matt Gulbin rounded out the Rimington finalists.

Kennesaw State punter Joshua Huiet took the Ray Guy Award after booming 70 punts for 3,106 yards (44.4 average), including 16 inside the 20 and a long of 64. Delaware’s Josh Cupitt and West Virginia’s Oliver Straw finished second and third.

Sam Houston State’s Grady O’Neill won the Jet Award as the nation’s top return specialist after piling up 663 kick return yards (28.8 average) and 391 punt return yards (11.8 average). Wyoming’s Eric Richardson and NC State’s Jonathan Paylor followed.

Friday night delivered the usual mix of coronations, surprises and validation for stars from playoff contenders and breakout programs alike. It also served as the final major stop before the sport’s biggest individual moment: the Heisman Trophy ceremony is tomorrow night, where Mendoza enters as the favorite and the season’s award circuit reaches its final act.

2025 College Football Award Winners

Award	Name	School	Season Stats
Maxwell Award	QB Fernando Mendoza	Indiana	346/503, 4,253 Yds, 33 TDs, 2 INT, 442 Rush Yds, 5 Rush TDs
Walter Camp Award	QB Fernando Mendoza	Indiana
Davey O’Brien Award	QB Fernando Mendoza	Indiana
Johnny Unitas Award	QB Byrum Brown	USF	3,191 Pass Yds, 20 TDs, 694 Rush Yds, 12 Rush TDs
Doak Walker Award	HB Jeremiyah Love	Notre Dame	1,586 Yds, 17 TDs
Biletnikoff Award	WR Jeremiah Smith	Ohio State	1,296 Yds, 15 TDs
Mackey Award	TE Amari Niblack	Texas A&M	817 Yds, 6 TDs
Outland Trophy	OG Logan Taylor	Boston College	903 Snaps, 0 Sacks
Rimington Award	OC Brady Small	Army	751 Snaps, 0 Sacks
Bednarik Award	LB Drayk Bowen	Notre Dame	131 Tackles, 17 TFLs
Nagurski Award	DE David Bailey	Texas Tech	27 TFLs, 19 Sacks
Lombardi Award	DE Reuben Bain Jr.	Miami (FL)	27 TFLs, 16.5 Sacks
Edge Rusher of the Year	DE David Bailey	Texas Tech
Butkus Award	LB Arvell Reese	Ohio State	82 Tackles, 15 TFLs
Jim Thorpe Award	S Caleb Downs	Ohio State	86 Tackles, 2 TDs
Lou Groza Award	K Peyton Woodring	Georgia	30/37 FG, Long 62
Ray Guy Award	P Joshua Huiet	Kennesaw St	44.4 Avg
Jet Award	WR Grady O’Neill	Sam Houston St	28.8 KR Avg, 11.8 PR Avg
Shaun Alexander Award	QB Drew Mestemaker	North Texas	3,925 Yds, 34 TDs
Bear Bryant Award	HC Curt Cignetti	Indiana	12–1 Record
Broyles Award	DC Matt Patricia	Ohio State

[Captain Canada]

Really cleaned up in some the big awards. Sucks that Sayin couldn't grab the Heisman, but next year could be huge for him individually.

[Soapy]

[Caesar]

Real season starts now. Let's see what you can do in the CFP.

[redsox907]

Mendoza gets folded in the CCG but gets the Heisman

[djp73]

I preferred the IU win. Yall was a buzzsaw tho

[toysoldier00]

Fernando Mendoza Wins Heisman, Caps Historic Indiana Rise

Marissa Bleday
December 13, 2025


Fernando Mendoza’s magical season at Indiana now has college football’s most iconic trophy to match it.

Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, comfortably beating out Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love in a race that, by season’s end, belonged to the Hoosiers star.

The victory comes one night after Mendoza swept three major awards, the Maxwell, Walter Camp and Davey O’Brien, and further cements his status as the projected No. 1 pick in next April’s NFL Draft.

In his Heisman speech, Mendoza reflected on Indiana’s unlikely climb from preseason curiosity to national power.

“This award has my name on it, but it belongs to Indiana,” Mendoza said. “It belongs to my teammates, my coaches and every person in Bloomington who believed we could build something people didn’t think was possible. We didn’t just have a good season, we changed what people think Indiana football can be.”

That’s why Mendoza’s Heisman case ultimately proved so strong. Yes, the numbers were elite, 4,253 passing yards, 33 passing touchdowns, 442 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, with just two total turnovers all season, but his candidacy was about more than production. He was the face of the sport’s biggest story.

Indiana climbed as high as No. 3 in the rankings and opened 12-0 before falling to No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. Along the way, the Hoosiers authored statement road wins at Oregon and Iowa, plus the program’s first-ever win at Penn State. Mendoza was the steady force behind all of it, combining explosive playmaking with remarkable ball security.

There had been late momentum for Sayin, especially after his head-to-head performance against Mendoza in the Big Ten title game, and Bailey’s finalist finish was a notable achievement for a defender in a quarterback-heavy era. Love, meanwhile, capped an outstanding season at Notre Dame by finishing fourth in the voting.

But Saturday night belonged to Mendoza, whose poise and production lifted Indiana into the CFP and into a new era. “To every kid who gets told your school can’t do it, your team can’t do it, you can’t do it, don’t listen,” Mendoza said. “Build it anyway.”

Next up: a playoff game in Bloomington. Indiana will host BYU next week in the first round of the College Football Playoff, with Mendoza now carrying both the Heisman and the hopes of a program still writing the best chapter in its history.

[toysoldier00]

Really cleaned up in some the big awards. Sucks that Sayin couldn't grab the Heisman, but next year could be huge for him individually.

Yep, that's what having the top defense in the country will do for you lol

[toysoldier00]

Real season starts now. Let's see what you can do in the CFP.

hoo rah

Mendoza gets folded in the CCG but gets the Heisman

tbh, he's been the leader since like Week 7 and nobody has been particularly close. I got no hate for it.

I preferred the IU win. Yall was a buzzsaw tho

Ultra efficiency at QB will do that for you