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2025 The Indiana Hoosiers became the fifth team in college football history to go 15-0. Now they can become the second team ever to go 16-0, joining only an 1894 Yale team that played with leather helmets.
With a relentless 56-22 drubbing of Oregon in the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers punched their ticket to their first national championship game appearance in program history.
Head coach Curt Cignetti has left the college football world with a dramatic turnaround of the Hoosiers program, going from one of the losing teams in the Big 10 to potentially the most dominant single season ever.
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Elijah Sarratt #13 of the Indiana Hoosiers is tackled by Ify Obidegwu #7 of the Oregon Ducks in the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 9, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Many prominent sports figures took to social media to express their amazement at Indiana’s unprecedented dominance during and after their win over Oregon. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun also chimed in.
Indiana’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdown passes, improving his case to be the top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Kaelon Black ran for two touchdowns to lead the Indiana running game.
INDIANA WINS FIRST OVERALL BIG 10 FOOTBALL TITLE SINCE 1945 AFTER OHIO STATE FLUB’S SHORT FIELD GOAL TRY
Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers is tackled by Aaron Flowers #21 of the Oregon Ducks in the second quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 9, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Oregon (13-2, No. 5 CFP) was doomed by the three turnovers in the first half, while also shortchanged by the absence of two of its top running backs.
Indiana’s defense didn’t wait long to make an impact. On Oregon’s first snap, cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Moore’s pass intended for Malik Benson and returned the pick 25 yards for a touchdown. Just 11 seconds into the game, the Hoosiers and their defense had already stated that this was going to be a long night for Moore and the Oregon offense.
Moore’s 19-yard scoring pass to tight end Jamari Johnson tied the game. The rest of the half belonged to Indiana and its big-play defense.
After Mendoza’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. gave the Hoosiers the lead at 14-7, forced Indiana’s defense into a turnover when Moore fumbled, and Indiana recovered at the Oregon 3, setting up Black’s score.
Moore lost another fumble later in the second quarter, then hit by Daniel Ndukwe and Mario Landino recovered at the Oregon 21. Mendoza’s first scoring pass to Sarratt gave the Hoosiers a 35-7 lead.
Indiana extended its lead to 42-7 on Mendoza’s 13-yard scoring pass to EJ Williams Jr.
Oregon finally answered. A 70-yard run by Hill set up a 2-yard scoring run by Harris.
The Hoosiers led 35-7 at halftime as the Ducks were held to nine rushing yards on 17 carries. Noah Whittington, who leads Oregon with 829 rushing yards, was held out with an undisclosed injury after Jordon Davison, who had rushed for 667 yards and 15 touchdowns, was already listed as out with a collarbone injury.
Backup running backs, including Jay Harris and Dierre Hill Jr., provided too little help for quarterback Dante Moore. Moore’s task against Indiana’s suffocating defense would have been daunting even with all his weapons.
After their undefeated regular season, the Hoosiers have only gained momentum in the CFP. Indiana overwhelmed Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinals, when Mendoza passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
Now the Hoosiers will prepare to face Miami on Jan. 19 in the national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Miami beat Mississippi 31-27 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinals Thursday night.
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Roman Hemby #1 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs out of bounds before the end zone against the Oregon Ducks in the second quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 9, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Indiana will try to give the Big Ten its third straight national title, following Ohio State and Michigan the past two seasons. Few teams from any conference can match the Hoosiers’ season-long display of balanced strong play.
The country will be watching to see if this unprecedented team can finish the job and truly punch their ticket into the history books.
