Atlanta, GA — Indiana’s perfect season continued to gather force Friday night as the Hoosiers turned defense into offense, piled up points in a hurry and steamrolled No. 5 Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl, advancing to the College Football Playoff national championship game.
Behind a relentless defense that produced three first-half touchdowns off turnovers and a dazzling performance from quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Indiana left little doubt about its place among college football’s elite. Mendoza threw five touchdown passes while completing 17 of 20 attempts, and the Hoosiers built a commanding halftime lead they never relinquished.
Top-ranked Indiana (15-0, No. 1 CFP) will meet No. 10 Miami on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The Hurricanes earned their spot with a 31-27 win over Mississippi in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal.
The Hoosiers now have a chance to deliver the Big Ten its third consecutive national championship, following titles by Ohio State and Michigan. With a balanced attack and a defense that consistently overwhelms opponents, Indiana has increasingly drawn comparisons to the most dominant teams the sport has seen.
Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and a Miami native, will enjoy a homecoming in the title game after carving up Oregon’s defense. He connected twice with Elijah Sarratt and also hit Charlie Becker for a 36-yard score as part of his five-touchdown night. Kaelon Black powered the running game with two rushing touchdowns.
Oregon (13-2, No. 5 CFP) never recovered from a disastrous first half. The Ducks committed three turnovers before intermission and were severely limited on the ground, finishing the first half with just nine rushing yards on 17 attempts. Oregon was without two of its top running backs, as Noah Whittington sat out with an undisclosed injury and Jordon Davison remained sidelined with a collarbone injury.
Those absences left quarterback Dante Moore under constant pressure against Indiana’s suffocating defense. Even at full strength, Moore would have faced a tall order; without key weapons, the task proved overwhelming.
Indiana struck immediately. On Oregon’s opening snap, cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Moore’s pass intended for Malik Benson and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. Just 11 seconds into the game, the Hoosiers had seized control.
Oregon briefly responded with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Moore to tight end Jamari Johnson, but that moment proved fleeting. Indiana answered with Mendoza’s 8-yard scoring throw to Omar Cooper Jr., then capitalized on Moore’s first fumble, recovered at the Oregon 3-yard line, with a short touchdown run by Black.
Another Moore fumble later in the second quarter, forced by Daniel Ndukwe and recovered by Mario Landino at the Ducks’ 21, set up Mendoza’s first touchdown pass to Sarratt. By halftime, Indiana had surged ahead 35-7.
The Hoosiers kept rolling after the break, extending the lead to 42-7 on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Mendoza to E.J. Williams Jr. Oregon finally found some life when a 70-yard run by Dierre Hill Jr. led to a 2-yard scoring plunge by Jay Harris, but the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Indiana added to the rout in the fourth quarter when Ndukwe blocked a punt, setting up Mendoza’s second touchdown connection with Sarratt.
The victory followed another dominant playoff performance for Indiana, which dismantled Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal. Through two CFP games, the Hoosiers have looked faster, deeper and more physical than their opponents.
The night also featured notable sideline guests. Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber served as an honorary captain for Indiana, while former Oregon standout and NFL running back Jonathan Stewart filled the same role for the Ducks.
With the win, Indiana completed a season sweep of Oregon. The Hoosiers also defeated the Ducks 30-20 in Eugene on Oct. 11, a game that similarly showcased Indiana’s defensive prowess.
The stands told a story of dominance as well. In a sellout crowd of 75,604, Indiana fans clad in red appeared to make up the overwhelming majority, turning Atlanta into a home away from home as the Hoosiers marched one step closer to a national title.
