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The No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game with a 56-22 win against the No. No. 5 Oregon Ducks in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Friday (January 9) night.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza threw for 177 yards and five touchdowns on 17 of 20 passing, while also recording 28 yards on six rushing attempts, leading the Indiana offense to seven touchdown drives on 11 possessions during Friday's blowout win.
The Hoosiers never trailed in Friday's game, jumping out to a 7-0 lead after cornerback D'Angelo Ponds intercepted Oregon quarterback Dante Moore for a 25-yard touchdown return on the Ducks' first offensive play of the game. Oregon answered with Moore throwing a 19-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson on the ensuing offensive possession before Indiana score 35 unanswered points, holding a 35-7 lead at halftime and outscoring the Ducks, 21-15, in the second half.
Indiana will face the No.10 Miami Hurricanes in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, which will be played at the Hurricanes' home field, Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami Gardens on January 19. The Hoosiers, who have never won a college football national championship, are in the midst of a program renaissance under head coach Curt Cignetti, who has gone 26-2 (17-1 Big Ten) and made the College Football Playoff during each of his first two seasons in Bloomington.