USA TODAY Network 2025 All-Big Ten football team, awards

Indiana won its first outright Big Ten title since 1945 and was rewarded with seven players on the 2025 USA TODAY Sports Network All-Big Ten team.

Ten players earned unanimous first team All-Big Ten honors, led by Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza (Offensive Player of the Year), Ohio State DB Caleb Downs (Defensive Player of the Year) and Iowa kick returner Kaden Wetjen (Specialist of the Year).

Mendoza also won Big Ten Newcomer of the Year with his coach Curt Cignetti the unanimous pick for Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Here is the rest of the 2025 postseason All-Big Ten team as determined by beat writers who cover the league for USA TODAY Sports Network.

USA TODAY Network All-Big Ten team

* denotes unanimous selection

OFFENSE

• QB: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana*
• RB: Emmett Johnson, Nebraska*
• RB: Kaytron Allen, Penn State*
• WR: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State*
• WR: Makai Lemon, USC
• TE: Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon*
• OL: Carter Smith, Indiana*
• OL: Logan Jones, Iowa
• OL: Beau Stephens, Iowa
• OL: Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
• OL: Vega Ioane, Penn State

DEFENSE

• DL: Derrick Moore, Michigan
• DL: Caden Curry, Ohio State
• DL: Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
• DL: Tyrique Tucker, Indiana
• LB: Sonny Styles, Ohio State*
• LB: Aiden Fisher, Indiana
• LB: Arvell Reese, Ohio State
• DB: Caleb Downs, Ohio State*
• DB: D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
• DB: Louis Moore, Indiana
• DB: Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

SPECIALISTS

• K: Nico Radicic, Indiana
• P: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State*
• Returner: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa*

Also receiving first team votes

• WR: Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana)
• OL: Caleb Tiernan (Northwestern), Iapani Laloulu (Oregon), Gennings Dunker (Iowa), Austin Siereveld (Ohio State), Trevor Lauck (Iowa), Matt Gulbin (Michigan State)
• DL: Gabe Jacas (Illinois), A’mauri Washington (Oregon), Stephen Daley (Indiana)
• LB: Rolijah Hardy (Indiana), Isaiah Jones (Indiana)
• DB: Bishop Fitzgerald (USC), Davison Igbinosun (Ohio State), Zach Lutmer (Iowa), Brandon Finney Jr. (Oregon)
• K: Drew Stevens (Iowa), Sean O’Haire (Maryland), Mateen Baghani (UCLA)

Big Ten postseason award winners

• Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana*
• Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year: DB Caleb Downs, Ohio State
• Big Ten Specialist of the Year: KR Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
• Big Ten Coach of the Year: Curt Cignetti, Indiana*
• Big Ten Newcomer of the Year: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana