Indiana crushes Oregon to advance to first championship game in program history, stunning sports world

The 2025 Indiana Hoosiers became the 5th squad successful assemblage shot past to spell 15-0. Now they tin go the 2nd squad ever to spell 16-0, joining lone a 1894 Yale squad that played with leather helmets. 

With a merciless 56-22 thumping of Oregon successful the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers punched their summons to their archetypal nationalist title crippled quality successful programme history. 

Head manager Curt Cignetti has near the assemblage shot satellite breathless with a melodramatic turnaround of the Hoosiers program, going from 1 of the losingest teams successful the Big 10 to perchance the astir ascendant single-season of each time. 

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Elijah Sarratt #13 of the Indiana Hoosiers is tackled by Ify Obidegwu #7 of the Oregon Ducks during the archetypal 4th successful the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal astatine the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium connected January 09, 2026 successful Atlanta, Georgia.  (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Many salient sports figures took to societal media to explicit their amazement of Indiana's unprecedented dominance during and aft their triumph implicit Oregon. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun besides chimed in. 

Indiana's Heisman Trophy-winning backmost Fernando Mendoza threw 5 touchdown passes, improving his lawsuit to beryllium the apical prime successful the upcoming NFL Draft. 

Kaelon Black ran for 2 touchdowns to pb the Indiana moving game.

INDIANA WINS FIRST OUTRIGHT BIG 10 FOOTBALL TITLE SINCE 1945 AFTER OHIO STATE FLUBS SHORT FIELD GOAL TRY

Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers is tackled by Aaron Flowers #21 of the Oregon Ducks during the 2nd 4th successful the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal astatine the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium connected January 09, 2026 successful Atlanta, Georgia.  (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Oregon (13-2, No. 5 CFP) was doomed by the 3 first-half turnovers portion besides being short-handed by the lack of 2 of their apical moving backs.

Indiana’s defence didn’t hold agelong to marque an impact. On Oregon’s archetypal snap, cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Moore’s walk intended for Malik Benson and returned the prime 25 yards for a touchdown. Only 11 seconds into the game, the Hoosiers and their defence already had made a connection this would beryllium a agelong nighttime for Moore and the Oregon offense.

Moore’s 19-yard scoring walk to choky extremity Jamari Johnson tied the game. The remainder of the fractional belonged to Indiana and its big-play defense.

After Mendoza’s 8-yard touchdown walk to Omar Cooper Jr. gave the Hoosiers the pb for bully astatine 14-7, Indiana’s defence forced a turnover erstwhile Moore fumbled and Indiana recovered astatine the Oregon 3, mounting up Black’s scoring run.

Moore mislaid a 2nd fumble aboriginal successful the 2nd 4th erstwhile deed by Daniel Ndukwe and Mario Landino recovered astatine the Oregon 21. Mendoza’s archetypal scoring walk to Sarratt gave the Hoosiers’ the 35-7 lead.

Indiana extended its pb to 42-7 connected Mendoza’s 13-yard scoring walk to E.J. Williams Jr.

Oregon yet answered. A 70-yard tally by Hill acceptable up a 2-yard scoring tally by Harris.

The Hoosiers led 35-7 astatine halftime arsenic the Ducks were held to 9 rushing yards connected 17 carries. Noah Whittington, who leads Oregon with 829 rushing yards, was held retired with an undisclosed wounded aft Jordon Davison, who had rushed for 667 yards and 15 touchdowns, already was listed arsenic retired with a collarbone injury.

Backup moving backs, including Jay Harris and Dierre Hill Jr, provided excessively small assistance for backmost Dante Moore. Moore’s task against Indiana’s stifling defence would person been daunting adjacent with each his weapons.

Following their undefeated regular season, the Hoosiers person lone gained momentum successful the CFP. Indiana overwhelmed Alabama 38-3 successful the Rose Bowl quarterfinal arsenic Mendoza passed for 192 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Now, the Hoosiers volition hole to look Miami connected Jan. 19 successful the nationalist title crippled astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami Gardens. Miami bushed Mississippi 31-27 successful the Fiesta Bowl semifinal connected Thursday night.

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Roman Hemby #1 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs retired of bounds earlier the endzone against the Oregon Ducks during the 2nd 4th successful the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal astatine the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium connected January 09, 2026 successful Atlanta, Georgia. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Indiana volition effort to springiness the Big Ten its 3rd consecutive nationalist title, pursuing Ohio State and Michigan the past 2 seasons. Few teams from immoderate league tin comparison with the Hoosiers’ season-long objection of balanced beardown play.

The state volition beryllium watching to spot if this unprecedented squad tin decorativeness the occupation and truly punch their summons into the past books. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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