By Garin Turner | SkyBoat.org
ATLANTA — Top-seeded Indiana left little doubt Thursday night in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, overwhelming No. 5 Oregon 56–22 to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Miami.
The Hoosiers jumped out to a commanding 35–7 halftime lead and never looked back, defeating Oregon for the second time this season with a performance that combined efficiency, explosiveness, and defensive pressure from the opening snap.
How It Happened
Indiana seized control immediately. On the first play from scrimmage, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was intercepted by D’Angelo Ponds, who returned the pick 25 yards for a touchdown to give the Hoosiers an instant 7–0 lead.
Oregon briefly answered with a methodical 14-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass from Moore to Jamari Johnson. From that point on, however, the game swung decisively in Indiana’s favor.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza led the Hoosiers on a 35-point unanswered surge. Mendoza connected with Omar Cooper Jr. on an eight-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead at 14–7, then watched Kaelon Black punch in a one-yard score early in the second quarter. Mendoza followed with touchdown passes of 36 yards to Charlie Becker and two yards to Elijah Sarratt as Indiana stretched the margin to 35–7 before halftime.
Indiana continued its dominance after the break. Mendoza opened the third quarter with a 13-yard touchdown pass to E.J. Williams before Oregon managed a response. A 71-yard run by Dierre Hill Jr. set up a two-yard touchdown by Jay Harris, followed by a successful two-point conversion.
Any hope of a rally was quickly extinguished. Mendoza added a three-yard touchdown pass to Sarratt in the fourth quarter, and Black scored his second rushing touchdown on a 23-yard run. Oregon added a final score on a one-yard pass from Moore to Roger Saleapaga, but Indiana had long since taken full control.
The Hoosiers punted just three times all night.
Indiana Player Stats
Mendoza continued his stellar postseason play, completing 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns. Indiana rushed for 185 yards on 40 carries, led by Black with 63 yards and two touchdowns on 12 attempts. Roman Hemby added 53 yards on 17 carries, while Khobie Martin contributed 42 yards on four rushes.
Sarratt led all receivers with seven catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Cooper Jr. and Becker each added key scores as part of a balanced passing attack.
Defensively, Aiden Fisher recorded nine tackles, Daniel Ndukwe posted two sacks, and Ponds finished with six tackles to go along with his pick-six.
Oregon Player Stats
Moore finished 24 of 39 for 285 yards and two touchdowns but endured a difficult night, throwing a pick-six and losing two fumbles. Hill Jr. led the Ducks on the ground with 86 yards on five carries, while Harris managed 35 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts.
Johnson caught four passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, and Jeremiah McClellan added five receptions for 64 yards. Bryce Boettcher led Oregon’s defense with 11 tackles, while Nasir Wyatt recorded the team’s lone sack.
What’s Next
Indiana advances to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, where the Hoosiers will face Miami with a chance to cap an undefeated season and claim the program’s first national title.
