Indiana's dominance continued as it obliterated Oregon 56-22 in a College Football Playoff semifinal on Friday, securing its spot in the national championship game against Miami.
With nearly flawless execution in the first half, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza outshone his counterpart, Dante Moore, who was plagued by turnovers that handed the Hoosiers a commanding lead. Ponds' pick-six just 11 seconds into the contest set the tone for an easy first half of scoring.
By halftime, Indiana had established a 35-7 advantage, largely due to Oregon's inability to move the ball and capitalize on opportunities. The Ducks' quarterback was fumbling left and right, leading to multiple scores for the Hoosiers.
In the second half, Indiana's defense stiffened even further, forcing the Ducks into two fourth-down failures that effectively sealed their fate. Meanwhile, Mendoza continued his outstanding performance, completing 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns – the first player in College Football Playoff history to throw five TDs in a single game.
With its victory over Oregon, Indiana has become the team everyone needs to beat in order to win the national title. They will now face Miami on January 19th at Hard Rock Stadium, with Mendoza set to attempt to win a national championship in his home stadium just outside of where he grew up.
This season has been one of the most unexpected in college football history. Two years ago, when Curt Cignetti took over as head coach of Indiana, the team was woefully uncompetitive. Now, after winning 15 games and the Big Ten Championship, they are mere victories away from becoming champions.
The improbable rise of the Hoosiers has been fueled by rule changes that have leveled the playing field in college football, allowing smaller schools to compete more effectively against powerhouses like Ohio State and Alabama. Cignetti's coaching style, which emphasizes grit and perseverance, has proven to be a winning formula for Indiana.
The stage is now set for an exciting showdown between two of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the country – Mendoza and his Miami counterpart.
With nearly flawless execution in the first half, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza outshone his counterpart, Dante Moore, who was plagued by turnovers that handed the Hoosiers a commanding lead. Ponds' pick-six just 11 seconds into the contest set the tone for an easy first half of scoring.
By halftime, Indiana had established a 35-7 advantage, largely due to Oregon's inability to move the ball and capitalize on opportunities. The Ducks' quarterback was fumbling left and right, leading to multiple scores for the Hoosiers.
In the second half, Indiana's defense stiffened even further, forcing the Ducks into two fourth-down failures that effectively sealed their fate. Meanwhile, Mendoza continued his outstanding performance, completing 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns – the first player in College Football Playoff history to throw five TDs in a single game.
With its victory over Oregon, Indiana has become the team everyone needs to beat in order to win the national title. They will now face Miami on January 19th at Hard Rock Stadium, with Mendoza set to attempt to win a national championship in his home stadium just outside of where he grew up.
This season has been one of the most unexpected in college football history. Two years ago, when Curt Cignetti took over as head coach of Indiana, the team was woefully uncompetitive. Now, after winning 15 games and the Big Ten Championship, they are mere victories away from becoming champions.
The improbable rise of the Hoosiers has been fueled by rule changes that have leveled the playing field in college football, allowing smaller schools to compete more effectively against powerhouses like Ohio State and Alabama. Cignetti's coaching style, which emphasizes grit and perseverance, has proven to be a winning formula for Indiana.
The stage is now set for an exciting showdown between two of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the country – Mendoza and his Miami counterpart.
! Indys dominance is REAL and Fernando Mendoza is my GOAT QB 
!! 5 TDs in one game?!?!?!?! 
That pick-six was the icing on the cake, lol what a game changer! 
I'm so hyped for the national championship game now, cant wait to see Indy take down Miami 
. Cignetti's coaching style is genius and those rule changes have been a total game changer for smaller schools like Indiana 
Mendoza vs. his counterpart, let's see what happens! Can't wait to tune in on January 19th 
Indiana's dominance is insane, especially with that pick-six by Fernando Mendoza just 11 seconds into the game 
. And can we talk about Mendoza's performance? 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards and FIVE TOUCHDOWNS?! 
Oh man, Indiana's on fire right now! I mean, who would've thought that after such a huge turnaround under new coach Cignetti, they'd be headed to the national championship game? 
Can someone provide some sources or stats that explain how smaller schools like Indiana can compete against powerhouses like Alabama and Ohio State? 