ATLANTA, GA. – On a crisp Friday night in Atlanta, the “Peach State” turned a deep shade of Hoosier Crimson. On January 9, 2026, the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers didn’t just win the Peach Bowl; they authored a masterpiece of modern football, dismantling the No. 5 Oregon Ducks 56–22 to punch their ticket to the program’s first-ever National Championship game.
The game was decided almost before the echoes of the national anthem had faded. Just 11 seconds into the contest, on Oregon’s very first snap, IU cornerback D’Angelo Ponds jumped a route perfectly, snagging an interception and sprinting 25 yards into the end zone. The pro-IU crowd—estimated at nearly 90% of the stadium—erupted in a deafening roar that set the tone for the night.
While the defense provided the spark, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza provided the fuel. Mendoza was “clinical,” as coach Curt Cignetti later described him, completing 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns. Remarkably, he threw more touchdowns than incompletions.
The Hoosiers’ offense was a relentless machine, scoring on five of their first six drives. Mendoza’s favorite targets, Elijah Sarratt (two touchdowns) and Charlie Becker (a 36-yard scoring strike), exploited an Oregon secondary that seemed perpetually a step behind.
By halftime, the score was 35–7, and the outcome was no longer in doubt. The “stifling” Indiana defense, led by Bryant Haines, held the Ducks to a meager nine rushing yards in the first half. Even when Oregon tried to claw back, IU had an answer:
Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby combined for over 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Daniel Ndukwe blocked a punt in the fourth quarter to set up yet another score.
In a highlight-reel moment, D’Angelo Ponds even lined up on offense, taking a quick pass for a crucial first down.
The victory was more than just a win; it was a statement. With this 56–22 rout, Indiana became the first team in history to record multiple 28+ point victories in a single College Football Playoff run, following their 38–3 thrashing of Alabama in the Rose Bowl just eight days prior.
As the final whistle blew, confetti rained down on Coach Curt Cignetti, who in just two seasons has transformed a long-struggling program into an undefeated (15-0) juggernaut.
The Hoosiers head to Miami on January 19 to face the Hurricanes, standing just one win away from “everything.”
