> At a Glance
> – Undefeated Indiana (15-0) steamrolled No. 5 Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl semifinal
> – Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza threw 5 TD passes in near-perfect 17-of-20 showing
> – Hoosiers defense scored 3 first-half TDs off turnovers to build 35-7 halftime lead
> – Why it matters: Indiana seeks third straight Big Ten national crown, faces Miami on Jan. 19
Indiana’s dream season rolled on as the top-ranked Hoosiers turned three first-half turnovers into touchdowns and never looked back, booking a spot in the national championship game.
Dominant Defense Sets Tone
t took 11 seconds for Indiana to make a statement. Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds jumped Dante Moore’s first pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. The defense wasn’t done.
- Moore fumbled on the next drive; Indiana recovered at the Oregon 3 and cashed in with a Kaelon Black touchdown run.
- A second Moore fumble late in the second quarter set up Mendoza’s first scoring strike to Elijah Sarratt.
- Oregon managed only 9 rushing yards on 17 carries in the half while missing top backs Noah Whittington and Jordon Davison.
Mendoza’s Miami Homecoming Awaits
The Miami native and Heisman Trophy winner dissected Oregon’s secondary, completing 17 of 20 passes for five touchdowns. He found Elijah Sarratt twice, Charlie Becker on a 36-yard beauty, and added scoring tosses to Omar Cooper Jr. and E.J. Williams Jr.
| Key Stats | Indiana | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 487 | 312 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Rushing Yards | 201 | 70 |
Special Teams & Ground Game Seal It
Kaelon Black added a second rushing touchdown, and Daniel Ndukwe blocked a punt in the fourth quarter to set up Mendoza’s final TD pass to Sarratt. The red-clad Indiana contingent-estimated at 80 % of the 75,604 fans-roared with every big play.
Key Takeaways
- Indiana has now beaten Oregon twice this season, both times forcing multiple turnovers.
- The Hoosiers have outscored playoff opponents 94-25 after a 38-3 Rose Bowl rout of Alabama.
- Miami (No. 10 CFP) awaits on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium, where local product Mendoza will play for a title at home.
A balanced juggernaut on both sides of the ball, Indiana stands one win away from capping a historic 16-0 campaign and extending the Big Ten’s national-championship streak to three straight years.
