ATLANTA — The Indiana Hoosiers are one win away from hanging a banner at Memorial Stadium.
Top-seeded IU obliterated No. 5 Oregon in the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Peach Bowl. The Hoosiers ran away with a 56-22 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Friday. The team now advances to the CFP National Championship Game against the 10th-seeded Miami Hurricanes, at their home field, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. The title game is on Monday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET, airing across ESPN’s networks.
Indiana (15-0) tied the record for most wins in a single college football season with this blowout. The Hoosiers would become the only team to ever win 16 games in one season if they capture their first-ever national championship.
Curt Cignetti’s team asserted its dominance right away on Friday. Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds sent the building into pandemonium with an interception return for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. Oregon (13-2) answered back with a clinical touchdown drive to tie the game, but IU took control the rest of the way. Bryant Haines’ defense forced two more takeaways in the first half, and the Hoosiers racked up 35 points by halftime.
Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza carved up the Ducks’ defense all game. He completed 17 of 20 pass attempts for 177 yards with five touchdowns; Elijah Sarratt caught two, and Omar Cooper Jr., Charlie Becker, and E.J. Williams Jr. reeled in one each. Kaelon Black also scored two touchdowns on the ground.
IU dominated Oregon in the trenches all game. The Hoosiers put UO standout quarterback Dante Moore under constant pressure, and they stacked 10 TFLs with three sacks. Indiana’s offensive line gave up only one sack, as Mendoza had plenty of time to operate for most of the night.
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