Here is the latest Big Ten Conference sports news from The Associated Press

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has won the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien awards on the eve of the Heisman Trophy presentation, with the redshirt junior heavily favored to take the top prize in college football. Mendoza took the honors for the player of the year and the top QB on ESPN’s college awards show. The Heisman winner will be named Saturday night in New York. Mendoza is also The Associated Press player of the year. The California transfer led the Hoosiers to a 13-0 record and top seed in the College Football Playoff.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Prosecutors say fired University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore threatened to kill himself in front of a woman with whom he had been having an affair after she broke off the relationship and reported it to school officials. He was charged Friday with stalking and home invasion. The university fired the 39-year-old Wednesday, saying he had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. He was subsequently arrested and spent two nights in jail. Moore appeared virtually on a television monitor at the arraignment on Friday.

UNDATED (AP) — Fernando Mendoza is set to be on stage for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, having already won the Associated Press Player of the Year Award. He could become the first winner from Indiana University and the third with Hispanic roots. Mendoza, a Miami native, wasn’t initially on the Heisman radar but set it as a goal. His season at Indiana has been memorable, with game-winning plays and a Big Ten title. Coach Curt Cignetti’s guidance and Mendoza’s resilience have been key.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State’s Tom Izzo is getting a $1 million raise in his 5-year contract that renews annually, a boost that makes him the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten with a salary of about $7.2 million. The school says its Board of Trustees had approved the raise as recognition of the 70-year-old Izzo’s “Hall of Fame legacy and demonstrates a shared commitment to achieving continued success.” Izzo is in his 31st season with the Spartans, who are ranked ninth with an 8-1 record this season. His teams have made eight Final Four appearances and won the 2000 national championship.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has hired Rob Aurich as its new defensive coordinator and Geep Wade to coach the offensive line. Aurich joins from San Diego State, where he led one of the top defenses in the Bowl Subdivision. The Aztecs had three shutouts and held eight of 12 opponents to 10 or fewer points. Wade, previously at Georgia Tech, has developed linemen who earned 23 all-conference awards. Rhule praised Aurich’s fundamentals and energy and highlighted Wade’s technique and recruiting skills.

UNDATED (AP) — The 12-team College Football Playoff bracket is set, starting December 19th. The first round features four games and the winners will advance to the quarterfinals to face the top-four teams. Ohio State is the favorite to win the national championship, followed by Indiana and Georgia. The playoff expanded from four to 12 teams, with a selection committee finalizing the bracket on Dec. 7. Conferences earn significant money, with $4 million per team in the bracket and additional earnings for advancing. The SEC and Big Ten have already secured substantial payouts.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Some athletic directors are starting to believe that collective bargaining agreements might be coming to college sports. The NCAA and its member schools have long said such labor deals are financially unfeasible. But with Congress failing to act on a key piece of legislation on Dec. 4, there was a growing sense of frustration among college sports executives who met this week at Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, a group of state attorneys general are urging their schools not to sign an agreement sent out by the newly created College Sports Commission that would set the guidelines for new rules to pay players.

UNDATED (AP) — At least 10 teams reportedly opted out of bowl games this year, including Notre Dame, Iowa State, and Kansas State. The 12-team playoff system has shifted focus from traditional bowls, making them optional for some. Despite this, bowl organizers remain optimistic, citing high viewership and community interest. They argue bowls are essential for many programs. The system is evolving, and organizers believe it should adapt to ensure its future relevance in college football.

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