- Fernando Mendoza fueled Indiana’s Big Ten title victory: While his stat line was modest, he was the highest-graded quarterback of the conference championship games and posted an elite 92.4 PFF passing grade.
- Ben Roberts excelled in the middle of Texas Tech’s defense: His 96.0 PFF coverage grade against BYU was the best mark among all players in the conference championship games, and he logged a pair of interceptions and a pair of pass breakups.
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Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
National Team of the Week
Offense
QB: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
RB: Wayne Knight, James Madison
WR: Miles Coleman, North Texas
WR: Charlie Becker, Indiana
TE: Tre Williams III, North Texas
Flex: WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
LT: Howard Sampson, Texas Tech
LG: Gabe Blair, North Texas
C: Sheridan Wilson. Texas Tech
RG: Davion Carter, Texas Tech
RT: Jimto Obidegwu. North Texas
Defense
EDGE: Sahir West, James Madison
EDGE: Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan
DI: Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
DI: Saadiq Clements, North Texas
LB: Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
LB: Jackson Kuwatch, Miami (OH)
CB: Joshua Franklin, Western Michigan
CB: JeRico Washington Jr., Kennesaw State
S: Louis Moore, Indiana
S: Andrew Pellicciotta, Duke
Flex: CB Domani Jackson, Alabama
Offensive Player of the Week: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Mendoza’s stat line may not look flashy, but he was by far the highest-graded quarterback in the conference championship games. He logged an 83.3% adjusted completion rate and earned a 92.4 PFF passing grade against Ohio State, buoyed by three big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays.
Defensive Player of the Week: LB Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
Roberts earned a 96.0 PFF coverage grade against BYU, the best mark among all players in the conference championship games. He didn’t allow any receptions into his primary coverage and finished the contest with a pair of interceptions and a pair of pass breakups.
Offensive Line of the Week: Texas Tech
Texas Tech’s offensive line was stout at all five spots in the Big 12 championship game, with no offensive lineman earning a PFF pass-blocking grade lower than 68.0. The team got big performances out of center Sheridan Wilson, right guard Davion Carter and left tackle Howard Sampson, who all earned PFF pass-blocking grades above 84.0.
Quarterback of the Week: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
See above.
Run Defender of the Week: S Eli Blakey, Miami (OH)
Blakey registered eight tackles in run defense against Western Michigan, four of which resulted in a defensive stop. His 89.8 PFF run-defense grade in the contest led all defensive players in the conference championship games.
Pass Rusher of the Week: EDGE Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan
Tucker was dominant off the edge for Western Michigan, racking up 10 pressures against Miami (OH), including a sack and two quarterback hits. He produced a 44.4% pass-rush win rate in the game, 10 percentage points higher than any other defensive player with 25 or more pass-rush snaps this week.
Coverage Defender of the Week: LB Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
See above.
