College Football Conference Championships: Team of the Week, Player Awards

• Fernando Mendoza secured Indiana’s Big Ten title victory: Although his stats were modest, he was the highest-rated quarterback of the conference championship games and earned an elite PFF grade of 92.4.

• Ben Roberts excelled in the middle of Texas Tech’s defense: His PFF coverage grade of 96.0 against BYU was the best mark of any player in the conference championship games, and he recorded a pair of interceptions and a pair of pass breakups.

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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

National team of the week

Offence

Q: 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 technology
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: Sadiq 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 stats may not look flashy, but he was by far the highest-rated quarterback in the conference championship games. He posted an adjusted completion percentage of 83.3% and earned a PFF grade of 92.4 against Ohio State, buoyed by three big throws and no turnover-worthy plays.

Defensive Player of the Week: LB Ben Roberts, Texas Tech

Roberts posted a PFF coverage grade of 96.0 against BYU, the best mark of any player in the conference championship games. He didn’t allow a single reception in his primary coverage and finished the game with a pair of interceptions and a pair of pass breakups.

Offensive Line of the Week: Texas Tech

Texas Tech’s offensive line was strong at all five spots in the Big 12 championship game, with no offensive lineman posting a PFF pass-blocking grade lower than 68.0. The team got big performances from center Sheridan Wilson, right guard Davion Carter and left tackle Howard Sampson, all of whom 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 recorded eight tackles in the run defense against Western Michigan, four of which resulted in a defensive stop. His run-defense grade of 89.8 PFF in the game led all defensive players in conference championship games.

Pass Rusher of the Week: EDGE Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan

Tucker was dominant from the edge for Western Michigan, compiling 10 pressures against Miami (OH), including a sack and two quarterback hits. He posted a 44.4% pass-rush winning percentage 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.