The dust has finally settled in Atlanta, and if you weren't watching Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 9, 2026, you missed a total demolition. People were asking all week who is playing in the Peach Bowl, and the answer ended up being a nightmare for the Ducks. It was the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers taking on the No. 5 Oregon Ducks in a College Football Playoff Semifinal that felt more like a coronation than a contest.
Indiana won. Big.
The final score was 56-22, a result that felt even more lopsided if you saw the first half. Honestly, the Hoosiers didn't just win; they essentially booked their flight to Miami for the National Championship before the third quarter even started. This was a "new era" Big Ten matchup, which is kinda wild when you realize these two teams used to be on opposite coasts. Now they’re conference rivals, and Indiana has clearly established a pecking order.
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How the Peach Bowl Matchup Was Decided
The path to Atlanta wasn't simple. Under the expanded 12-team playoff format, these teams had to grind through a brutal winter schedule. Indiana, the top-ranked team in the country, earned a bye into the quarterfinals where they absolutely dismantled Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl. That win was a statement. It told the world that Curt Cignetti’s squad wasn't just a "Cinderella" story—they were the favorite.
Oregon had a slightly longer road. They had to beat James Madison in the first round (51-34) and then shut out Texas Tech 23-0 in the Orange Bowl. Dan Lanning had his defense playing at an elite level, or so we thought. By the time they met in the Peach Bowl, it was a rematch of an October 11 regular-season game where Indiana had already beaten Oregon 30-20.
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Key Players in the 2026 Peach Bowl
- Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana): The Heisman winner played like a man possessed. He threw for 177 yards and multiple scores, but his efficiency was the real story. He was the game's Offensive MVP.
- D’Angelo Ponds (CB, Indiana): He set the tone immediately. On the first play of the game, he intercepted Oregon’s Dante Moore and took it to the house.
- Dante Moore (QB, Oregon): It was a rough night for the Ducks’ signal-caller. That early pick-six seemed to rattle the entire sideline.
- Charlie Becker (WR, Indiana): His 36-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter basically blew the game wide open.
The Blowout in Mercedes-Benz Stadium
If you’re wondering why the score got so out of hand, look at the turnovers. Indiana's defense was "edgy," as some analysts described it, forcing mistakes that Oregon just couldn't recover from. By halftime, it was 35-7. That’s not a typo. Indiana scored 35 unanswered points at one stage.
It was sunny outside in Atlanta, but inside the dome, it was a storm of cream and crimson. The Hoosiers out-rushed the Ducks 185 to 93. When you can't run the ball and you’re turning it over on the first play, you’re going to have a bad time. Oregon did manage a few late scores, including a one-yard pass to Roger Saleapaga with 22 seconds left, but it was purely cosmetic.
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What This Means for the National Championship
Since Indiana handled business against Oregon, they are now headed to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. They’ll be facing the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes on January 19. Miami is coming off a 31-27 nail-biter against Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl. It’s a matchup nobody saw coming back in August—the "Power 4" hierarchy has been completely flipped on its head.
For the Hoosiers, this is their first-ever shot at a National Title in the playoff era. They are looking to bring the Big Ten its third consecutive championship after Ohio State and Michigan took the trophies the last two years.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you are planning to follow the aftermath or look ahead to the title game, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Injury Reports: Oregon’s Dierre Hill Jr. had a massive 71-yard run but the Ducks’ offense looked banged up by the fourth quarter.
- Mendoza's Homecoming: The National Championship is in Miami. Fernando Mendoza is a Miami native. The ticket demand for that game is already surpassing the 75,604 attendance mark we saw at the Peach Bowl.
- Secondary Market Caution: If you're looking for National Championship tickets, stick to the official CFP ticket exchange. Prices are expected to exceed face value significantly given the "home game" feel for Miami and the historic run for Indiana.
- Check the Stats: Indiana’s third-down efficiency (11-14) was the secret sauce in the Peach Bowl. If Miami can't get them off the field on third down, the final will look a lot like the semifinal.
The question of who is playing in the Peach Bowl has been answered with a definitive shout from Bloomington. Indiana is for real.