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Big 10 head coach reportedly didn't want his starting quarterback to attend the Manning Passing Academy in 2025
Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

The Manning Passing Academy, which is held annually each summer in Louisiana, is a who's who of college quarterbacks. 

Most of the top quarterbacks in the sport are in attendance as counselors for the camp, which is hosted by the Mannings: Archie, Cooper, Eli, and Peyton 

Not every notable college quarterback, however, is attendance for the camp each year, for various reasons. 

Longtime NFL draft analyst Todd McShay recently broke down his experience at this year's Manning Passing Academy and he revealed that two notable Big 10 quarterbacks weren't in attendance. 

Penn State's Drew Allar and Indiana's Fernando Mendoza didn't participate in the 2025 Manning Passing Academy. 

Allar has never taken part in the camp. Mendoza, meanwhile, was at the camp last year. 

According to McShay, Mendoza's absence this summer was Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti's call. 

"Drew Allar from Penn State and Mendoza from Indiana now, a transfer from Cal, were not there," said McShay. "Allar made his choice, and for three years has opted not to come. Mendoza was there last year and was absolutely awesome. Great kid, everyone loves him. Curt Cignetti, apparently, preferred him not going." 

According to McShay, Cignetti's reasons for wanting Mendoza to skip the Manning Passing Academy were understood by Archie and company. 

"I don't want by leaving it alone for people to be like there's something going on," explained McShay. "It's coach's preference. First year there (at Indiana), they had a work out, still trying to make sure he's up to speed [after] transferring from Cal. 

"And then, you know, Cignetti does it his way, and that's it. And [Cignetti was] respectful, had contact with Archie....but at the end of the day, coach made a decision. Mendoza respected it. But the good news for Mendoza is he was there last year, and they were like, no ill will, totally understand it. He made the right decision if that's coach's choice." 

It sounds like Cignetti basically wanted to make sure that Mendoza didn't miss any time learning Indiana's offense (even though it's just a few days in the middle of the summer). 

Those few days probably won't make a big difference in how well (or how quickly) Mendoza picks up the Indiana offense. But as McShay said, that's Cignetti's choice and it sounds like everyone at the Manning Passing Academy respected it. 

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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