> At a Glance
> – No. 1 Indiana (15-0) routed No. 5 Oregon (13-2) 56-22 in the Peach Bowl semifinal
> – Fernando Mendoza threw 5 TD passes and the defense scored 3 first-half turnovers
> – Indiana will face No. 10 Miami in the Jan. 19 national championship at Hard Rock Stadium
> – Why it matters: The Hoosiers are one win away from the Big Ten’s third straight title and a perfect 16-0 season
Indiana’s 11-second pick-six set the tone as the Hoosiers turned three first-half turnovers into touchdowns and never looked back.
Dominant First Half
D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Dante Moore on the game’s first play and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. The defense added two more turnovers that set up short scoring drives, ballooning the lead to 35-7 by halftime.
- Kaelon Black punched in two rushing scores
- Elijah Sarratt hauled in two of Mendoza’s five touchdown passes
- Oregon managed only 9 rushing yards on 17 carries before the break
Mendoza’s Near-Perfect Night
The Heisman winner, playing a homecoming game in his native Miami, completed 17 of 20 passes for 251 yards and five touchdowns. Coach Curt Cignetti praised his quarterback and the receivers for “contested catches” that broke the game open.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning acknowledged Mendoza’s mastery:
> “He makes the right decisions. If he sees the coverage, he takes the ball where it needs to go.”
Depleted Oregon Attack
The Ducks played without top backs Noah Whittington (undisclosed injury) and Jordon Davison (collarbone). Backup runners Jay Harris and Dierre Hill Jr. combined for 90 yards, and the offense never found rhythm against Indiana’s pressure.
Dante Moore, who lost two fumbles and threw the pick-six, took responsibility:
> “The quarterback has to protect the football.”
Special Teams & Crowd Edge
Daniel Ndukwe blocked a fourth-quarter punt, leading to Mendoza’s final touchdown toss to Sarratt. Indiana fans packed the stadium-an estimated 80 percent of the 75,604 seats-turning Atlanta into a de-facto home game.
Key Takeaways
- Indiana’s defense has now scored four touchdowns in two CFP games
- The Hoosiers have outscored opponents 94-25 in the playoffs
- A win over Miami would make Indiana the first 16-0 team in FBS history
With kickoff in Miami Gardens looming, the Hoosiers carry a 15-game win streak and a belief that their balanced attack can complete one of the greatest seasons in college football history.
