The Red Sea Rises: #1 Indiana Bludgeons Oregon 56–22 to Clinch Title Berth

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In a performance that will be remembered as the definitive “arrival” of a new college football blue blood, No. 1 Indiana didn’t just beat No. 5 Oregon last night; they dismantled them. In a 56–22 Peach Bowl rout that felt over before the first quarter ended, the Hoosiers (15-0) secured their spot in the National Championship game, proving that their undefeated season was no Cinderella story—it was an inevitability.

The Hoosiers now head to Miami to face the Hurricanes on January 19, carrying with them the momentum of the most dominant semifinal win in the 12-team playoff era.

Eleven Seconds to Destiny

The game was effectively decided on the very first snap. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore looked for a quick out-route to Malik Benson, but Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds jumped the route perfectly. Ponds’ 25-yard pick-six just 11 seconds into the game sent the 75,000-plus fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium—roughly 90% of whom were clad in cream and crimson—into a state of delirium.

Oregon briefly answered with a Jamari Johnson touchdown to tie it at 7–7, but that was the last time the Ducks would be within striking distance.

The Mendoza Masterclass

Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza played with the surgical precision of a veteran pro. Facing a Ducks defense that had previously been one of the sturdiest in the nation, Mendoza was nearly perfect:

The Stats: 17-of-20 passing, 177 yards, and 5 touchdowns.
The Distribution: Mendoza found five different receivers for scores, including a leaping 36-yard touchdown to Charlie Becker and two clinical strikes to Elijah Sarratt.

The efficiency was staggering. Mendoza didn’t need to throw for 400 yards because the Indiana defense consistently gifted him short fields. By halftime, the Hoosiers led 35–7, and the “Big Ten vs. Big Ten” rematch had turned into a coronation.

Defensive Dominance & Oregon’s Self-Destruction

While Mendoza was the scalpel, the Indiana defense was the sledgehammer. They forced three first-half turnovers from Dante Moore, including two lost fumbles that were both converted into touchdowns by running back Kaelon Black.

Oregon’s offense was visibly hampered by the absence of its top two rushers, Jordon Davison and Noah Whittington. Without a viable ground game, Moore was a sitting duck for a Hoosier pass rush led by Daniel Ndukwe, who recorded two sacks, a forced fumble, and a blocked punt.

Key Stat	Indiana	Oregon
Total Points	56	22
Turnovers Forced	3	0
Rushing Yards	185	93
Average Yards Per Play	7.2	4.8

A Homecoming in Miami

The narrative heading into the National Championship is a screenwriter’s dream. Fernando Mendoza, a Miami native who grew up just miles from Hard Rock Stadium, will lead the Hoosiers into a “road” game against the Miami Hurricanes.

For Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, the win is the penultimate step in a turnaround that saw the “losingest program in FBS history” become the most feared team in the nation in just two seasons.

“We knew what we were capable of,” Mendoza said while standing under a shower of red and white confetti. “The pick-six set the tone, but we never took our foot off the gas. We have one more to go in my backyard. Let’s go home.”