Nobody really expected the 2025-26 postseason to look like this. If you’d told me two years ago that an Oregon Indiana college football game would basically decide the national championship landscape, I’d have asked if we were talking about basketball. But here we are.
It was a cold Friday night in Atlanta, January 9, 2026. The Peach Bowl. A College Football Playoff semifinal with everything on the line.
Indiana didn't just win. They dismantled a powerhouse.
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You look at a 34-point margin and think "blowout." It was worse than that. The Hoosiers were essentially playing a different sport for three quarters.
Dante Moore, the Oregon quarterback, had a nightmare start. Literally the first play from scrimmage. He throws an out-route, D'Angelo Ponds jumps it, and it’s a 25-yard pick-six before the fans even sat down.
Oregon tried to respond. They actually put together a beautiful 14-play drive to tie it up 7-7. It felt like we had a classic on our hands. Then the wheels didn't just fall off; they disintegrated.
The Fernando Mendoza Factor
While Moore was struggling with turnovers—three in the first half alone—Indiana's Fernando Mendoza was playing like a surgeon.
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He didn't need 500 yards. He was just... efficient.
- 17-of-20 passing.
- 5 touchdowns.
- 177 yards.
- 85% completion rate.
Mendoza has this weird ability to scramble not just to run, but to find the one guy Oregon’s secondary forgot about. By the time the halftime whistle blew, it was 35-7. The Ducks were held to 9 rushing yards in the first half. Nine. In a CFP semifinal.
The Regular Season "Warning Shot" in Eugene
People forget that we saw a preview of this back in October. On October 11, 2025, Indiana traveled to Autzen Stadium.
That was a "Yellow Out" game for the Ducks. It was supposed to be the night Oregon asserted dominance in the new Big Ten. Instead, Curt Cignetti’s squad walked in and snapped Oregon’s 18-game home winning streak with a 30-20 victory.
That game was closer, sure. Oregon even tied it up 20-20 in the fourth quarter. But Mendoza led a clinical drive to take the lead back, and the Hoosier defense—led by guys like Mikail Kamara and Aiden Fisher—just wouldn't break.
What Actually Happened to Oregon's Offense?
Honestly, Oregon was short-handed. You can't ignore the injury report if you want the full story.
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They were missing Jordon Davison, who had a broken collarbone. Then Noah Whittington, their leading rusher with over 800 yards, was a late scratch.
Suddenly, Dante Moore was asked to carry the entire team against a defense that specializes in "disguise and destroy" looks. Moore admitted after the Peach Bowl that he struggled with the Indiana disguises. He's a talented kid, but Indiana’s defensive coordinator had him seeing ghosts by the second quarter.
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Curt Cignetti has basically pulled off the greatest turnaround in modern college football history.
He brought a bunch of guys with him from James Madison. People laughed. They said Sun Belt talent wouldn't hold up in the Big Ten.
Tell that to the Oregon offensive line that got bullied in the trenches. Indiana won the line of scrimmage in both the October matchup and the Peach Bowl. They were faster, they were more physical, and they seemed to want it more.
Key Takeaways from the Matchup
If you're trying to figure out how the Oregon Indiana college football game became a lopsided rivalry in 2025, look at these specific factors:
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- Turnover Margin: In the Peach Bowl, Indiana was +3. You can't give a team like that extra possessions.
- Red Zone Efficiency: Mendoza was nearly perfect in the red area. He doesn't settle for field goals.
- Third Down Dominance: Indiana went 11-of-14 on third downs in the semifinal. That’s a video game stat.
- Short Fields: Between the pick-six and the blocked punt in the fourth quarter, Indiana started multiple drives in Oregon territory.
Where Do Both Teams Go From Here?
Indiana is headed to the National Championship against Miami. It's the first time in program history they've ever been on this stage. For Oregon, it’s a bitter pill. Dan Lanning has built a consistent winner, but they've lost five games in three years—all of them to teams that made the national title game.
They are the "almost" kings of college football right now.
If you're an Oregon fan, you're looking at the 2026 recruiting class and hoping for more depth at running back. If you're a Hoosier, you're probably still pinched because this doesn't feel real.
To prep for next season, keep an eye on the transfer portal. Oregon will likely look for veteran defensive line help to match the physicality Indiana showed. Also, watch the recovery of Jordon Davison; his presence transforms that Oregon offense from one-dimensional to elite. For Indiana, the challenge is now the "hunted" status. Everyone in the Big Ten has a target on Bloomington now.
Check the 2026 schedule early—this matchup is becoming one of the most intense new rivalries in the conference.