The anticipation was palpable in Atlanta as the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers faced off against the fifth-seeded Oregon Ducks in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl on January 10, 2026. With the University of Miami already awaiting the victor in the national championship game, the stakes couldn’t have been higher for two programs hungry for their first-ever national title. For Indiana, this was the closest they’d ever come to college football’s pinnacle. For Oregon, it was a shot at redemption after last year’s playoff disappointment and a chance to finally climb the mountaintop.
Heading into this highly anticipated clash, both teams boasted impressive credentials. Indiana had stunned the college football world all season long, storming to a perfect 13-0 record and securing their first Big Ten title since 1967. The Hoosiers’ journey included a dominant 38-3 rout of Alabama in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal and a win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, whose resume is as unorthodox as it is successful, Indiana was rewriting its own history. As Cignetti once famously put it, “It’s pretty simple. I win. Google me.”
Oregon, meanwhile, arrived with plenty of firepower and a chip on its shoulder. Coming off a 23-0 shutout of Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl quarterfinal, the Ducks’ defense was riding high after forcing four turnovers and surrendering just 215 total yards. Their offense, led by quarterback Dante Moore and tight end Kenyon Sadiq—both projected as likely first-round NFL draft picks—was expected to keep pace with anyone. But the Ducks faced a significant setback: running back Jordon Davison was ruled out for the Peach Bowl, and Noah Whittington was listed as questionable, leaving the backfield thin and putting extra pressure on Moore to deliver.
This matchup was also a rematch of their October 11 meeting in Eugene, where Indiana—then a 7-point underdog—pulled off a 30-20 victory. That game set the stage for the Hoosiers’ magical run and gave them a psychological edge heading into Atlanta. Yet, as many analysts noted, it’s tough to beat a great team twice in one season. Four out of five previous College Football Playoff rematches had been won by the team that lost the regular season meeting. Would Oregon flip the script, or would Indiana’s storybook season continue?
From the opening whistle, it was clear that Indiana came ready to seize the moment. The very first play set the tone: Oregon’s Dante Moore dropped back to pass, only to be intercepted by D’Angelo Ponds, who returned it for a touchdown. Just eleven seconds in, the Hoosiers were up 7-0 and their crimson-clad fans—who made up an estimated 85% of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd—erupted in celebration.
The Ducks, to their credit, responded with poise. After shaking off the early miscue, Moore engineered a 14-play drive capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson, tying the score at 7-7. Jay Harris, filling in at running back, provided some stability with a series of tough runs. But the Hoosiers’ offense, led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, quickly regained control. Mendoza, who finished the regular season with 3,172 passing yards and an FBS-leading 36 touchdowns, looked every bit the nation’s best player. He orchestrated a flawless drive, mixing short passes and handoffs before hitting Omar Cooper Jr. for an 8-yard touchdown to put Indiana back on top, 14-7.
The second quarter is where the game truly broke open. A mishap in the Oregon backfield led to a fumble, with Dierre Hill Jr. colliding with Moore and the ball squirting loose. Indiana’s Mario Landino pounced on it, setting up Kaelon Black’s 1-yard touchdown plunge. Suddenly, the Hoosiers led 21-7. On the next Oregon possession, Moore was sacked by Daniel Ndukwe, coughing up the ball once again—Landino recovered his second fumble of the half. Mendoza wasted no time, delivering a 36-yard strike to Charlie Becker for another touchdown. The fans could hardly believe their eyes as Indiana extended their lead to 28-7.
Turnovers became the defining story of the first half. Oregon’s three giveaways all led directly to Hoosier touchdowns. As one analyst put it, “The stat that explains everything: Turnovers. The Ducks’ three turnovers, starting with the very first play that resulted in a pick-six and set Indiana’s fans into exultation, have been absolute backbreakers.”
Indiana’s offense continued to hum. Mendoza, nearly perfect in the opening 30 minutes, completed 10 of 11 passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns for a staggering QB rating of 264.9. He spread the ball to six different receivers, with Elijah Sarratt making a highlight-reel one-handed catch before hauling in a 2-yard touchdown pass. The Hoosiers’ offensive line kept the pocket clean, and the running game, led by Black and Roman Hemby, churned out tough yards behind a physical front.
Even when Oregon managed to move the ball, they couldn’t capitalize. As the first half wound down, the Ducks got into field goal range, but Atticus Sappington’s 56-yard attempt fell well short. With the halftime whistle, Indiana jogged to the locker room holding a commanding 35-7 lead. The Hoosiers had forced three turnovers, sacked Moore multiple times, and scored on nearly every short field opportunity.
While the total yardage and time of possession were fairly even, the difference lay in execution and discipline. Indiana’s defense, coordinated and relentless, made life miserable for Moore and the Ducks’ offense. The crowd, overwhelmingly partisan, fueled every big play and turnover with deafening roars.
For Oregon, the absence of Jordon Davison and the lack of running back depth forced Moore to shoulder too much of the offensive burden. Despite his regular season heroics—3,280 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 9 interceptions—he couldn’t overcome the relentless Indiana pass rush and the costly mistakes that piled up early.
With Miami waiting in the wings for the national title game on January 19, the Hoosiers looked every bit the team of destiny through two quarters. Their defense had stifled two of college football’s premier programs in back-to-back playoff games, while Mendoza and the offense operated with ruthless efficiency. As one reporter observed, "Maybe we should have seen this coming after how Indiana treated Alabama at the Rose Bowl. But it’s still stunning."
As the second half loomed, Oregon faced a mountain to climb—needing a near-miraculous turnaround and hoping for Indiana to falter. But with the Hoosiers firing on all cylinders, it was clear that the momentum, the crowd, and perhaps fate itself were on Indiana’s side. The Peach Bowl semifinal was still ongoing, but Indiana’s march toward history had reached a fever pitch.
