Every season leaves clues.
About players. About coaches. About the direction of the sport. And about what matters mast when the noise fades and the games are done.
As the calendar turns and the postseason lights up, we wanted to pause—just briefly—to recognize four individuals who didn’t just post numbers or win games. They embodied the spirit of 2025 here at Y-Option.
So welcome to our 2025 Awards show as Jim Thornby and I reveal the Y-Option GO GO GO Awards, presented by our founding sponsor 76®, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.
My 5-Star Quarterback of the Year
Fernando Mendoza — Indiana
There are recruiting rankings. And then there are journeys.
Fernando Mendoza’s path—from two-star recruit to Heisman Trophy winner—may be one of the most compelling quarterback stories the sport has ever produced.
As a starter, Mendoza had a different offensive coordinator each season with a new systems and new expectations. Yet what never changed was his preparation, inner belief and competitive edge.
What stood out all season—and in New York over the weekend—wasn’t just the arm talent or the efficiency. It was his awareness. Of moments. Of teammates. Of the responsibility that comes with leading a program that hadn’t stood on this stage before.
He prepared like a pro long before the hardware arrived. He bet on himself when others didn’t. And now there’s a new generation of quarterbacks—somewhere in middle school, some headed to Elite 11—who will study him the way he once studied Tom Brady.
That’s impact.
Fernando Mendoza is our 2025 Five-Star Quarterback of the Year.
Go Go Gone Award
Makai Lemon — USC
The best receivers don’t just get open.
They rise.
Makai Lemon did exactly that in 2025—turning big moments, tight windows, and constant attention into production and presence. He led all Power Four receivers in yards, earned the Biletnikoff, and became only the second Trojan ever to take home that honor.
But what separated him wasn’t just what he did—it was how he did it.
Humility. Precision. Reliability. When defenses knew the ball was coming his way, he still delivered. When USC needed answers, he provided them.
That’s why every touch felt dangerous. And why every defense felt pressure.
Makai Lemon didn’t just stretch the field. He elevated it.
He is our 2025 Go Go Gone Award winner.
That Dude! Award
Kenyon Sadiq — Oregon
Every defensive coordinator asks the same question on Sunday night preparing to face the Ducks:
Where is Kenyon Sadiq on every snap?
For Oregon, the answer was clear. He’s everywhere.
Kenyon Sadiq wasn’t just productive. He was positional chaos. Tight end. H-back. Slot. Backfield. Seam. Red zone. Motion. Mismatch.
Linebackers couldn’t run with him. Defensive backs couldn’t handle his size. And when injuries hit the Ducks’ receiver room, his impact only grew.
But this award has always been about more than stats.
It’s about presence. Professionalism. And setting the standard.
Sadiq followed the blueprint laid down before him—then elevated it. From how he entered practice, to how he prepared, to how he competed.
Which is why Kenyon Sadiq is That Dude! for Y-Option in 2025.
Headset Hero
Curt Cignetti — Indiana
Great coaching isn’t loud.
It’s consistent.
What Curt Cignetti has built at Indiana defies modern precedent. 24 wins and 2 losses in two seasons at a program that won 23 games in the previous 5 years combined! IU is a program reborn through evaluation, development, and unwavering standards.
I’ve known about Coach Cignetti for a while and getting to know him it’s clear - he leads with independent thoughts, uncommon consistency and elite communication.
Those are the pillars of great leadership. And few have embodied them like Coach Cignetti.
He didn’t chase trends. He didn’t lower expectations. He spoke belief into existence—and demanded that others rise to meet it.
In a season full of worthy candidates, this one was clear.
Curt Cignetti is Y-Option’s 2025 Headset Hero, presented by 76.
Final Whistle
Four awards. Four stories. One shared thread.
Preparation. Belief. Standards. Fearless.
As the College Football Playoff unfolds and the sport continues to evolve, these are the examples worth holding onto. The ones that remind us why we fell in love with the game in the first place.
From all of us at Y-Option, thank you for riding with us through another season and enjoying today’s episode around our Awards and the first round of the College Football Playoff. Whether you’re here every week or just checking in, we don’t take it lightly.
We’ll keep going.
We’ll keep asking better questions.
And we’ll keep celebrating the people and who compete to make those around them better.
Much love and stay steady,
Yogi
