No. 1 Indiana Powers Past No. 5 Oregon to Reach CFP National Championship

ATLANTA (AP) — Top-ranked Indiana continued its dominant College Football Playoff run with a convincing 56–22 victory over No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl semifinal on Friday night.

Thanks to a relentless defense and a near-perfect performance from quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers improved to 15–0 and advanced to the 2026 CFP National Championship Game.

Indiana will now face No. 10 Miami on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Miami secured its spot after edging Mississippi 31–27 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal.

Defense Sets the Tone Early

From the opening snap, Indiana made its intentions clear.

Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Oregon quarterback Dante Moore’s first pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. Just 11 seconds into the game, the Hoosiers seized control.

Soon after, the defense continued to apply pressure. Indiana forced three first-half turnovers, all of which led directly to touchdowns. As a result, the Hoosiers built a commanding 35–7 halftime lead.

Coach Curt Cignetti credited the fast start.

“It all started with the pick-six,” he said. “We created turnovers, capitalized on them, and set the tone.”

Mendoza Delivers a Masterclass

While the defense dominated, Mendoza delivered another elite performance.

The Heisman Trophy winner completed 17 of 20 passes for five touchdowns, including two scores to Elijah Sarratt and a 36-yard strike to Charlie Becker.

Cignetti praised his quarterback’s poise.

“He was incredible,” the coach said. “He was in total control, and his performance made the difference.”

Oregon coach Dan Lanning agreed, adding that Mendoza consistently made smart decisions against coverage.

Balanced Offense Overwhelms Oregon

Indiana’s offense stayed aggressive throughout the game.

Running back Kaelon Black added two rushing touchdowns, while Mendoza connected with multiple receivers to stretch Oregon’s defense. The Hoosiers extended their lead to 42–7 early in the second half and never looked back.

Although Oregon found brief success late in the game, including a 70-yard run by Dierre Hill Jr., the outcome was already decided.

Meanwhile, Oregon struggled without two key running backs. Starter Noah Whittington sat out with an injury, while Jordon Davison missed the game with a collarbone issue. As a result, the Ducks managed just nine rushing yards in the first half.

A Historic Season Continues

Indiana’s postseason surge follows an already impressive campaign.

Earlier in the CFP, the Hoosiers crushed Alabama 38–3 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal. Now, they stand one win away from delivering the Big Ten its third straight national title, following championships by Ohio State and Michigan.

More importantly, Indiana continues to strengthen its case as one of the most complete teams college football has seen in years.

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