By Garin Turner | SkyBoat.org
The Big Ten will send a representative to the national championship game for a third consecutive season, but first, No. 5 Oregon and No. 1 Indiana meet Friday night with a title berth on the line.
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl semifinal kicks off Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The winner advances to face the victor of the Miami vs. Ole Miss semifinal.
How Oregon Got Here
Oregon opened the College Football Playoff with a 51–34 win over No. 12 James Madison, building a commanding 34–6 halftime lead before coasting through the second half. Quarterback Dante Moore threw for 313 yards and four touchdowns on 19-of-27 passing, adding a rushing score while overcoming two interceptions.
The Ducks followed that performance with a dominant defensive showing in the Capital One Orange Bowl quarterfinal, blanking No. 4 Texas Tech 23–0. Moore completed 26 of 33 passes for 234 yards, while running back Jordon Davison scored twice on the ground. Oregon’s defense forced four turnovers and recorded four sacks, controlling the game from start to finish.
Indiana’s Path
Indiana enters the semifinal well-rested after earning a first-round bye and delivering one of the most complete performances of the playoff in a 38–3 rout of Alabama in the Rose Bowl.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza was nearly flawless, completing 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns. The Hoosiers leaned heavily on a physical ground attack, rushing 50 times for 215 yards. Kaelon Black rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown, while Roman Hemby added 89 yards and a score.
Indiana’s defense limited Alabama to just 193 total yards and kept the Crimson Tide out of the end zone, underscoring the Hoosiers’ balance on both sides of the ball.
What to Watch
Oregon’s ability to protect the football will be critical against an Indiana defense that thrives on discipline and field position. Moore’s turnover issues have not been costly to this point, but mistakes against the nation’s top seed could be decisive.
On the other side, Indiana’s ability to sustain long drives and control tempo with its rushing attack could dictate the flow of the game.
Prediction
Both teams are capable of lighting up the scoreboard, but Indiana’s consistency and balance give the Hoosiers the edge in what could feature two of the top quarterbacks in this year’s NFL Draft.
Indiana 42, Oregon 35
