Indiana Obliterates Oregon in Historic Peach Bowl Performance
In a performance that will be etched into the annals of college football history, the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers dismantled the No. 5 Oregon Ducks with a staggering 56-22 victory in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl. On Friday night in Atlanta, the Hoosiers didn’t just win; they sent a definitive message to the college football world that the new era of dominance resides in Bloomington.
A First Play for the Ages
The tone was set just 11 seconds into the game. On Oregon’s first snap from scrimmage, Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds jumped a route on a pass from Ducks quarterback Dante Moore, returning it 25 yards for an electrifying pick-six. While Oregon momentarily stabilized with a 14-play touchdown drive to tie the game at 7-7, the floodgates opened shortly after. This play set the tone for the Indiana Hoosiers, and they did not look back after it.
Mendoza’s Heisman Masterclass
Leading the charge was Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who delivered what can only be described as a surgical performance. Mendoza was nearly flawless, completing 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns. For the second consecutive playoff game, the Indiana signal-caller finished with more touchdown passes than incompletions, a stat that highlights the “warp-speed” efficiency of Curt Cignetti’s offense.
Mendoza spread the ball to seven different receivers, with Elijah Sarratt emerging as the primary target, hauling in two scores. The Hoosiers’ offense was perfectly balanced, as the ground game racked up over 200 yards, led by Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby. This was one of the best QB performances I’ve witnessed since what Joe Burrow did in 2019. If Mendoza can complete this fairy tale season with a natty, he very well may be one of the best QBs in college football history.
The Defensive “Demolition Derby”
While the offense clicked, the Indiana defense turned the game into a “demolition derby.” The Hoosiers’ relentless pass rush harassed Dante Moore all night, forcing three first-half turnovers. Moore lost two fumbles on strip-sacks, both of which were recovered deep in Oregon territory and converted into Indiana touchdowns.
By halftime, the score was a lopsided 35-7. The Ducks, missing key contributors in their backfield, were held to a measly nine rushing yards on 17 carries through the first two quarters. Even when Oregon’s Dierre Hill Jr. broke free for a 71-yard run in the second half, it was far too little, too late. The defense as a whole put a stop to Oregon getting anything going.
The Path to Glory
This victory marks a total transformation for a program that, prior to coach Curt Cignetti’s arrival, was statistically the losingest in FBS history. In just two seasons, Cignetti has turned Indiana into a 15-0 juggernaut that has now swept Oregon twice this year, having previously beaten them 30-20 in Eugene back in October.
The Hoosiers have now outscored their two playoff opponents, Alabama and Oregon, by a combined score of 94-25. They become the first team in the 12-team CFP era to record multiple victories of 28 points or more in a single postseason.
What’s Next: The National Championship
Indiana now heads to Miami for the program’s first-ever national title game appearance on January 19. They will face the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes, who secured their spot after a thrilling 31-27 victory over Ole Miss. For Mendoza, a Miami native, the game serves as a poetic homecoming with the ultimate prize on the line.
If Indiana prevails, they will become the first 16-0 team in college football history, completing a “Hollywood ending” to a season that has defied every expectation.
