Indiana University Football’s Fernando Mendoza wins Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year IU football quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been selected as the 2025-26 Big Ten Conference Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year, the league announced on Wednesday. Mendoza is the sixth IU athlete to earn the award, and the first since track and field star Derek Drouin in 2013. This is the second such honor for the Hoosiers’ football program, as Mendoza joins College Football Hall of Famer Anthony Thompson, who won in 1990. Beyond Mendoza, Drouin and Thompson, the other three male winners from IU were Jim Spivey (track, cross country, 1982), Sunder Nix (track, 1984) and Steve Alford (basketball, 1987).
Mendoza was the the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, selected by the Las Vegas Raiders. He’s the second-ever Hoosier to go No. 1 overall, joining Corbett Davis, whom the long-defunct Cleveland Rams drafted in 1938. Mendoza transferred to IU from Cal in December 2024, and went on to post one of the greatest individual seasons in program history, in undoubtedly the greatest team season in program history. He took the Hoosiers to a remarkable 16-0 season ending in their first-ever national championship, capturing wins in the Big Ten Championship Game, Rose Bowl, and Peach Bowl along the way. Mendoza also won Indiana’s first-ever Heisman Trophy, along with the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award, and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
The Miami native shattered IU’s single-season passing touchdown record, with 41 on the year. Mendoza also set a program single-season completion percentage record at 72 percent, and he finished second behind Nate Sudfeld with 3,535 passing yards last season. Mendoza led the FBS in passing touchdowns (41), passing efficiency (182.9) and points responsible for (288), behind an FBS-best 48 touchdowns accounted for. He was the only FBS quarterback with six games of four-plus touchdown passes and zero interceptions and accounted for at least one touchdown in all 16 games, including 14 with a touchdown pass. Mendoza is the eighth football player to claim the honor, joining Iowa’s Chuck Long (1986), Thompson (1990), Michigan’s Desmond Howard (1992) and Charles Woodson (1998), Ohio State’s Eddie George (1996) and Chase Young (2020), and Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne (2000). UCLA basketball center Lauren Betts has been recognized as the 2025-26 Big Ten Conference Female Athlete of the Year. IU softball’s Avery Parker was the school’s nominee. Legendary swimmer Lilly King is the school’s only female winner of the honor (2017 and 2018).
Former Indiana Hoosier Daniel Munie Features in MLS All-Star Roster Major League Soccer announced its complete roster for the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday (July 7). The roster includes former Indiana men’s soccer All-American and San Jose Earthquakes defender Daniel Munie. Munie and the MLS All-Stars will play against the Liga MX (Mexican first division) All-Stars July 26 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Munie has appeared in and started 14 matches this season for San Jose, currently the No. 2 team in the Western Conference. San Jose has kept five clean sheets in 15 matches, holding opponents to 15 goals. The fourth-year center back has also contributed three goals and two assists, already tying his career-high for goal contributions halfway through the season.
Munie is the 12th Hoosier, 11th player, to make an MLS All-Star roster and first since Aidan Morris in 2023. Indiana men’s soccer alumni have totaled 13 appearances in all-star matches. Munie was part of three NCAA College Cup teams for Indiana between 2018-22 and started in two College Cup finals. Over four playing seasons, Munie started in 71 of his 79 appearances, recorded eight goals and five assists as a central defender and took part in 41 clean sheets. IU finished top 15 nationally in total shutouts each season he played. Following Munie’s consecutive All-American campaigns in 2021 and 2022, San Jose selected the redshirt senior with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.
Republican Lawmakers Demand Answers from WNBA commissioner on Treatment of Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark Republican lawmakers are urging the WNBA to protect Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. This comes about a week after Clark spoke out about her disappointment in the league and to those who sent hate comments to Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas. “I think for us, the leagues just got to do better protecting our players,” Clark said. Clark’s comments to the media were in reference to an in-game incident with Thomas, which led to Thomas’ suspension for one game. Thomas received a flagrant foul after her fist made contact with Clark’s neck. The letter was shared in an X post by Texas Rep. August Pfluger. Authored by Pfluger, the letter was co-signed by 11 Republican lawmakers, including Indiana lawmakers Marlin A, Stutzman, Victoria Spartz and Erin Houchin. The letter list Clark’s influence on the WNBA and her inspiration to young girls to support why she is “one of the most influential figures in the history of women’s basketball.”
The lawmakers go on to emphasize that Clark is the face of their league and that it’s unfortunate that fans have to watch repeated “aggressive competition.” “Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye, and struck in the throat during games. These incidents go far beyond routine physical play, yet the WNBA and its officiating have too often failed to address these unacceptable incidents and hold players accountable,” the letter wrote. The “struck in the throat” reference is seemingly alluding to the in-game incident with Thomas. The letter went on to call out the commissioner, stating that she has “an obligation to ensure that every player competes in a safe and professional environment, both on and off the court, free from violence, discrimination, or retaliation.”
The letter also called on the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate if discrimination or retaliation occurs. It states this would “constitute violations of federal civil rights laws.” The letter ended by requesting answers to the following questions by July 24: What is your review mechanism for physical hostility and violence on the court? How will you hold players accountable for overly aggressive actions on the court, including towards Caitlin Clark? What steps are you taking to protect WNBA players from online harassment and off the court threats? The letter ended in a final call to action. The members of the Republican study committee say they are “committed to strengthening families and protecting opportunities for women in sports,” so they say the WNBA commissioner should do the same.
Adam Vinatieri Being Inducted into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor An Indianapolis Colts legend is being inducted into an elite group. On Oct. 18, former star kicker Adam Vinatieri will be inducted into the Colts Ring of Honor at a home game against the Tennessee Titans. As a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, Vinatieri played in 265 career games over 24 seasons with the Hoosier team and the New England Patriots. The kicker was no stranger to victory with four Super Bowl rings — one with the Colts and three with the Patriots. According to the team, Vinatieri became the fifth player ever to play in an NFL game at the age 46 years or older. He ranks first in NFL history in field goals made, field goals attempted, consecutive field goals made (44) and 100-plus point seasons (21). The Colts say he also has the second-most career wins (242), career regular season wins (221) and career postseason wins (21) in NFL history.
Vinatieri will become the 21st honoree in the Ring of Honor, joining: Owner Robert Irsay (1996), WR-Bill Brooks (1998), Head Coach Ted Marchibroda (2000), G/T-Chris Hinton (2001), QB-Jim Harbaugh (2005), “Colts Nation” (2007), Head Coach Tony Dungy (2010), WR-Marvin Harrison (2011), RB-Edgerrin James (2012), RB-Eric Dickerson (2013), RB-Marshall Faulk (2013), C-Jeff Saturday (2015), General Manager Bill Polian (2016), QB-Peyton Manning (2017), WR-Reggie Wayne (2018), DE-Dwight Freeney (2019), DE-Robert Mathis (2021), T/G-Tarik Glenn (2022), TE-Dallas Clark (2024) and Owner & CEO Jim Irsay (2025), For more information on the famed kicker and his new honor, click here.
Larry Nance Jr. Signs a One-Year, $4M deal with the Indiana Pacers per reports The Indiana Pacers are continuing to make offseason moves to shore up their frontcourt. It was announced Wednesday that forward Larry Nance Jr. has signed a one-year deal with Indiana worth $4 million. ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to report the news. A 10-year NBA veteran, Nance most recently played with the Cavaliers. He averaged a career-low 12.8 minutes per game in 35 appearances last season in Cleveland. He put up per game stats of 3.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists. Nance has previously made stops with the Lakers, Cavaliers, Trail Blazers, Pelicans and Hawks before returning to Cleveland last season on a league-minimum deal. Throughout his career, he has averaged 7.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Analysts believe Nance will now fight for minutes in Indiana’s backup big-man rotation that already includes Jay Huff and Micah Potter.
The NCAA Sends a Letter of Inquiry to the University of Cincinnati About Brendan Sorsby Within the Fort Worth entertainment district called The Stockyards, there stands an iconic, near 80-year-old restaurant where much more than bread is broken. At Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, deals are struck. Along linoleum flooring and among wood-paneled walls, ranchers and cattlemen for nearly eight decades have dined on sizzling Texas-sized steaks — with a side of business. Ranch selling. Cattle trading. Rodeo organizing. But one week ago, last Tuesday, college sports emerged as the main entree. Big 12 conference officials and Texas Tech administrative executives gathered at Cattlemen’s to air grievances, seriously discuss the future of the league and, most importantly, bury the proverbial hatchet in the wake of the Brendan Sorsby saga — a three-month sports wagering ordeal that enveloped the college sports industry. Those at the meeting describe it as a positive step in the long-term future of the two entities co-existing. For Texas Tech, and the Big 12 and its 15 other schools, lingering issues remain. In fact, on Tuesday here from Big 12 football media days, Tech head coach Joey McGuire signaled that more time is needed before all wounds are healed. “I think it’s tough,” McGuire said in an interview with Yahoo Sports. “I think there’s going to be a process. There’s a lot of finger pointing. It’s going to be something we’ll have to work through.” As Texas Tech and the Big 12 continue their reconciliation, the Sorsby saga is far from over.
The NCAA has sent a letter of inquiry to the University of Cincinnati related to Sorsby’s time at the school, those with knowledge tell Yahoo Sports. An inquiry letter is not uncommon and doesn’t necessarily signal wrongdoing, but it is often the start of an investigative process over possible rules violations, one that often is a collaborative effort with the school itself. Sorsby played the last two seasons at Cincinnati during which he has acknowledged betting on sports. School officials expect to soon respond to the inquiry, presumably with documentation and details that the NCAA requested. A Cincinnati spokesperson declined to comment specific to the letter of inquiry but provided a general statement on the monthslong situation involving the Bearcats’ former quarterback: “We have had continuous conversations with the NCAA since the initial reports related to impermissible sports wagering began. As we have stated before, we do not believe any athletics official, or staff member was aware of any impermissible sports wagering.”
The NCAA does not comment on ongoing inquiries and investigations with its member schools. From this Dallas suburb on Tuesday, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark kicked off his football media days mostly side-stepping questions about Sorsby and the league’s relationship with its most well-resourced football program, Tech. He told reporters that “today is not the time to address that issue.” Last week, Yormark joined a host of Texas Tech officials at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, including board members and major boosters Cody Campbell and Dusty Womble, and the school’s president and athletic director, Lawrence Schovanec and Kirby Hocutt. Also present was Doug Girod, the Kansas chancellor and chair of the Big 12 board of presidents and chancellors, and Shane Reese, BYU’s president.
What exactly transpired at the meeting remains private, but in a recent interview with Yahoo Sports, Campbell described the conversation as productive — but not over. The talk didn’t only relate to Sorsby, but to the investment of other Big 12 member schools at a time when the Big Ten and SEC are outspending football rosters in the league. “We don’t have a problem with the Big 12,” Campbell said. “We want to find a way to get all other Big 12 schools to elevate themselves. Everybody needs to do some version of what we’ve done. That’s the path forward for this conference. A rising tide lifts all boats. People not on board with that and those that want everyone worse so they can be relatively better, we’ll have a problem with those institutions.”
While not identifying a specific figure, McGuire estimates that Texas Tech is spending on its football roster in the top 10 in the country — a number approaching, if not more than, $40 million. Coaches polled here on Tuesday believe that the average Big 12 football roster is likely in the $18-22 million range. “Texas Tech brings up the average,” UCF coach Scott Frost said. “They were probably double that last year.” Campbell has even suggested a floor for spending to require a certain level of investment from Big 12 schools. McGuire says those investing at a high level within the conference include BYU and Utah and, he says, “You can’t say Houston is not. They signed the freshman five-star [quarterback Keisean Henderson, the top-rated QB in the 2026 recruiting class.] If that was us, it would be that he came to Tech for the money.”
Tech’s spending is no secret here. The Red Raiders lead all programs with seven preseason first-team all-conference selections and, by most preseason projections, are the league’s best option to advance in the College Football Playoff. In fact, Netflix is planning a behind-the-scenes series on the program and on Tuesday, a film crew from Paramount+ documented McGuire and players here. The topic du jour: The quarterback who will not play for the Red Raiders this season. Sorsby will spend the next few months training in Dallas in preparation for the 2027 NFL Draft after a whirlwind legal situation unfolded this summer. A local judge lifted the NCAA’s permanent ban on Sorsby for sports wagering to allow him to compete this season. The Big 12 responded by filing a retaliatory lawsuit against the school in a move that forced Texas Tech to split from the quarterback to avoid a long, federal legal fight that may have ended with them getting a potential ban from the conference championship game and playoff.
“If there was a point we couldn’t play in the Big 12 championship game or the College Football Playoff, we couldn’t take that chance,” McGuire said here Tuesday. Texas Tech will honor the compensation already paid to Sorsby, believed to be more than $1 million. McGuire called the transfer portal “speed dating” and said there isn’t enough time to fully vet player backgrounds. Even if there was, McGuire wonders if Tech would have uncovered Sorsby’s past gambling problems. “You’re talking about real money. You’ve got to figure out a way to do as much investigation as possible. We do it medically. Now we have to do it with everything else,” McGuire said. “I think what you could see is different teams investing into some kind of [player] investigation like the NFL. You’ll probably start seeing that more and more.”
Feelings remain hurt over comments made by administrators across the country in condemning the school’s support of a player who knowingly wagered on his own team, even if it was four years ago while a backup at Indiana. “I was taken back and surprised,” McGuire said. “I didn’t think the conferences as a whole and the ADs were going to be so critical as they were. That was interesting.” McGuire gestured to an old quote from a high school principal: Make sure your own closet is clean before talking about anyone else’s closet. In a comment indicative of an unfinished reconciliation process between Texas Tech and the Big 12, McGuire quipped, “There were a lot of people saying a lot of things. Something is going to pop up out of your locker room or program. How are you going to respond?”
Mark Sanchez Trial Delayed once again The Indiana criminal trial of former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez has been pushed back yet again. Sanchez is now slated to go on trial on Sept. 8. Sanchez’s case has featured five different trial dates. The most recent trial delay was discussed during a July 1 hearing. Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez’s day in court keeps moving back as another continuance pushes the trial into the summer. Sanchez is facing several criminal counts in Marion County after a late-night stabbing incident in October landed the former pro football player in the hospital. Sanchez was stabbed several times during an altercation in a downtown Indianapolis alley with the one-time NFL player accused of being the aggressor in the incident.
Previous reports detail how Sanchez, who was in town to call a Colts game for FOX Sports, got into an altercation with 69-year-old truck driver Perry Tole after reportedly insisting the older man move his truck from the alleyway. Tole said Sanchez attacked him, with the 69-year-old using pepper spray and a knife to allegedly defend himself against the former NFL player. Sanchez’s jury trial was originally scheduled for March 12, but it has been rescheduled three times. The latest continuance was approved on Tuesday, with the trial moved from May 28 to July 13. It is unclear if this time the date will stick.
Sanchez’s most serious charge is battery resulting in serious injury, a Level 5 felony. The maximum penalty for such a crime in Indiana is a six-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000. Sanchez is being represented by the office of noted defense attorney Jim Voyles in court. Voyles has represented numerous notable individuals in the past, including boxer Mike Tyson. In the wake of the stabbing, FOX Sports parted ways with Sanchez. Tole has also filed a civil lawsuit against Sanchez, Fox Sports, and Huse Culinary Inc, the parent company of St. Elmo’s.