The No. 1 ranked Indiana Hoosiers delivered a devastating statement of intent on Friday night, crushing the No. 5 Oregon Ducks 56-22 in the Peach Bowl semifinal of the College Football Playoff. Their flawless season remains intact as they booked a place in the national championship game.
A Defensive Masterclass Sets the Tone
The Hoosiers' formidable defence wasted no time, striking just 11 seconds into the contest. Cornerback D'Angelo Ponds intercepted Oregon quarterback Dante Moore's first pass and returned it 25 yards for an opening touchdown. This set the stage for a half defined by Indiana's opportunistic defence, which generated three crucial turnovers that all led to touchdowns before the break.
With Oregon already missing their top two running backs due to injury, Jordon Davison (collarbone) and Noah Whittington (undisclosed), the Ducks' offence was stifled. They managed a paltry nine rushing yards on 17 carries in the first half. Moore, under relentless pressure, lost two fumbles, with the second recovered by Mario Landino after a hit from Daniel Ndukwe, leading to another Hoosiers score.
Mendoza's Heisman-Calibre Performance
While the defence provided the platform, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza orchestrated the offensive demolition. The Miami native was in near-perfect form, completing 17 of 20 passes for five touchdown throws. His targets included Elijah Sarratt, who caught two scoring passes, and Charlie Becker, who hauled in a 36-yarder.
Kaelon Black added two rushing touchdowns for the Hoosiers, who led 35-7 at halftime and never looked back. The lead ballooned to 42-7 in the third quarter before Oregon found a brief response via a 2-yard run by Jay Harris. Indiana's special teams joined the party in the fourth quarter with a blocked punt by Ndukwe, setting up Mendoza's final TD pass to Sarratt.
Road to the Championship
This victory extends Indiana's perfect record to 15-0 and continues their overwhelming run through the playoff. They previously dismantled Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal. The Hoosiers will now face the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes in the national championship game on 19 January at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Indiana aims to secure a third consecutive national title for the Big Ten conference, following wins by Ohio State and Michigan. Their season-long display of balanced, dominant football makes them a formidable contender for the crown.
Notable sidelines: The sell-out crowd of 75,604 at the Peach Bowl was overwhelmingly dominated by Indiana supporters, estimated at 80%. Honorary captains included Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber for Indiana and former Oregon star Jonathan Stewart for the Ducks.
