Indiana Dominates Oregon in Peach Bowl to Advance to CFP Championship.

ATLANTA — Top-ranked Indiana continued its commanding College Football Playoff run with a decisive 56–22 victory over No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl semifinal on Friday night. Behind a relentless defense and a near-flawless performance from quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the undefeated Hoosiers left little doubt about their championship credentials.

Indiana (15–0) capitalized on three first-half turnovers that directly resulted in touchdowns, building a massive halftime advantage. Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, completed 17 of 20 passes for five touchdowns, spreading the ball efficiently across Indiana’s deep receiving corps. Elijah Sarratt caught two scoring passes, while Charlie Becker hauled in a 36-yard touchdown. Kaelon Black added two rushing touchdowns to round out the balanced offensive attack. The Hoosiers jumped ahead almost immediately when cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Oregon quarterback Dante Moore on the game’s opening snap and returned it for a touchdown. Although Moore briefly answered with a scoring pass to tight end Jamari Johnson, Indiana seized control for the remainder of the half. Following an 8-yard touchdown pass from Mendoza to Omar Cooper Jr., Oregon turnovers piled up. Moore fumbled twice in the second quarter, setting up short fields that Indiana converted into touchdowns, including another scoring strike to Sarratt. By halftime, the Hoosiers held a commanding 35–7 lead, while Oregon managed only nine rushing yards.

Indiana extended its dominance in the second half, highlighted by another Mendoza touchdown pass and a blocked punt that led to yet another score. Oregon struggled offensively, hampered by injuries to its top two running backs and overwhelmed by Indiana’s defensive pressure. Backup runners provided limited relief, and Moore faced constant disruption.

With the win, Indiana advances to the national championship game, where it will face No. 10 Miami on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The matchup will mark a homecoming for Mendoza, a Miami native, as Indiana seeks to deliver the Big Ten its third consecutive national title following championships by Ohio State and Michigan.

Indiana also completed a season sweep of Oregon, having previously defeated the Ducks 30–20 in Eugene earlier in the year. Hoosiers fans made their presence felt as well, filling an estimated 80 percent of the 75,604-seat stadium and creating a decidedly one-sided atmosphere.