Fernando Mendoza became Indiana football's first-ever recipient of the Big Ten's Griese–Brees Quarterback of the Year award Thursday.

The Hoosiers had 22 players sign to join Curt Cignetti 's program. By mid-day Wednesday, national signing day and the first day in a period that high school recruits could sign with college football programs, IU's class was 31st nationally and ninth in the Big Ten, per Rivals industry rankings.

After so many years on the mic, Don Fischer is getting a rare first in his career — calling Indiana football playing in the Big Ten championship.

Battles with leukemia and now liver cancer have taken their toll on Todd Reid, but the success of IU's football team is helping to lift his spirits.

IU boasts "largest living alumni base" with more than 800,000. And this season, they watched their football team play its best season in history.

"When you have a winning team, the excitement level just kind of peaks," said Carol Rogers, director of the Indiana Business Research Center at IU.

IU football head coach Curt Cignetti has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year for second straight season, leading Hoosiers to historic 12-0 regular season.

The success Curt Cignetti and Indiana football players are having is lifting the spirits of long-suffering fans, including IU's athletics director.