Indiana University's wide receiver, Elijah Sarratt, is garnering national attention after being named to the Maxwell Award watch list. The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football, and Sarratt's inclusion on the preseason list highlights his potential impact for the Hoosiers this upcoming season.
Sarratt is coming off a breakout season that has positioned him as a game-changer for Indiana. His performance has not only put Indiana football on the national radar but has also solidified his place among the top receivers in the country. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Sarratt is the fourth-highest rated receiver in the nation. PFF also noted that among Power Four wide receivers, only Jeremiah Smith and Jordyn Tyson recorded more receiving yards than Sarratt's 957 in 2024. Additionally, his 16 contested catches were tied for the seventh-most among Power Four receivers. Over the past two seasons, Sarratt's 90.3 PFF overall grade leads all returning FBS receivers, as do his 2,156 receiving yards—nearly 400 more than any other returning wideout.
Sarratt is one of two Indiana players on the Maxwell Award watch list, the other being quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Indiana is one of only 16 programs with multiple players on the preseason list. Mendoza, a transfer quarterback with significant experience, could greatly impact the Hoosiers' offense. Before transferring to Indiana, Mendoza played in 20 career games and started 19 over three seasons at Cal, finishing his career there as the all-time leader in completion percentage (66.4%) and tying for No. 7 in 250-yard passing games (10). In the 2024 season, Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards, making it the ninth 3,000-yard passing season in Cal history, and helped Cal earn a berth in the Las Vegas Bowl.
The Hoosiers are entering a pivotal 2025 season under head coach Curt Cignetti, and the recognition of players like Sarratt and Mendoza underscores the program's growing potential. The team has begun fall camp. PFF ranks Indiana No. 17 in the nation in their preseason team power rankings. Within the Big Ten, Indiana trails Ohio State (1), Oregon (2), Penn State (6), and Michigan (12). PFF projects Indiana's strength of schedule as 67, with a projected win total of 7.92, an 89.08% chance to make a bowl game, a 4.86% chance to win the conference, a 21.21% chance to make the playoff, and a 1.27% chance to win the national championship.
