ATLANTA – The undefeated No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers punched their ticket to the National Championship in a historically dominant fashion, dismantling the No. 5 Oregon Ducks 56-22 in the Peach Bowl on Friday night.
With this victory, Indiana (15-0) moves on to face No. 10 Miami on January 19 in Miami, Florida, with a chance to secure the first national title in program history.
A Nightmare Start for Oregon
The tone was set from the very first play from scrimmage. Before Indiana’s high-powered offense even took the field, the defense struck. Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Oregon QB Dante Moore’s first pass, returning it 25 yards for a pick-6.
While Oregon (13-2) briefly showed life with a 75-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 7-7, the momentum shifted permanently back to the Hoosiers due to critical turnovers. Two fumbles by Moore—one a freak collision on an RPO and another caused by a Daniel Ndukwe sack—allowed Indiana to build a massive 35-7 halftime lead.
Fernando Mendoza: Why He is the NFL’s Consensus No. 1 Pick
Fresh off his Heisman Trophy win, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza delivered another masterclass in efficiency. Mendoza’s stat line was once again "absurd," further solidifying his status as the favorite for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Stats: 17-of-20 passing, 177 yards, and 5 touchdowns.
Efficiency: This marked Mendoza's fifth game this season with more passing touchdowns than incompletions.
Mendoza’s clinical performance, including touchdowns to Charlie Becker and Elijah Sarratt, left the Ducks' defense searching for answers that never came.
Oregon’s Offensive Struggles and Injury Woes
The Ducks entered the Peach Bowl severely shorthanded at the running back position. Starters Noah Whittington (leg injury) and Jordon Davison (fractured clavicle) were limited or absent, leaving the workload to Jay Harris and Dierre Hill Jr.
While Harris managed a highlight-reel 71-yard run in the third quarter, Oregon’s offense was largely stifled by a relentless Indiana front. The loss of left tackle Isaiah World and right guard Alex Harkey during the game further crippled Oregon’s ability to protect Moore, who was under duress for all four quarters.
The Road to the National Championship
Indiana now faces a showdown with No. 10 Miami on the Hurricanes' home turf. With Indiana already signing TCU transfer Josh Hoover to lead the team next year, the National Championship will likely be Mendoza’s "Last Dance" in a Hoosiers uniform.
The Hoosiers are currently the only undefeated team at the top level of college football, and if Friday's performance was any indication, they will be incredibly difficult to stop on January 19.
