At the beginning of this season, Indiana was still riding high on what was considered the program’s greatest season. Plenty of folks had high expectations for 2025, but not many pegged the Hoosiers to be a win away from a National Championship berth. Meanwhile, Oregon was a quiet favorite thanks to Dan Lanning’s elite recruiting of high school and transfer talent. So, raise your hand if you had Indiana and Oregon facing off in the Peach Bowl with the right to get to the National Championship.
For reference, Oregon opened the year with +900 odds (good to tie for fifth-best), and Indiana had +10000 odds (tied for 22nd-best). So, if you placed $100 on Indiana to win, and the Hoosiers win the Peach Bowl and the National Championship, you’d walk away with $10,100. NIL and the transfer portal have done wonders for parity in the sport, but these two teams also have elite head coaches getting their teams ready for the biggest moments.
History Will Be Made in the B1G Rematch at the Peach Bowl
How Did We Get Here?
Indiana ran through its regular-season schedule, notching the program’s first 12-win season in its 139 years of existence. One of those wins was over these Oregon Ducks in Eugene, a place that is notoriously difficult to win in (just ask Ohio State). Of course, Indiana didn’t just win, it dominated with a 30-20 win.
Further cementing its place in history, Curt Cignetti’s team captured the program’s first Big Ten title since 1967, and first win over Ohio State since 1988. Thanks to that, the Hoosiers earned the top-overall seed and became the first top-four seed in the 12-team era to win. Indiana, again, didn’t just win the Rose Bowl; it dominated Alabama. It was the first Rose Bowl win in program history. At the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers are searching for their first win in their third try.
As for the Ducks, they have overcome so much adversity and leaned on freshmen playmakers to get to this point. Oregon’s regular season ended at 11-1, with just that loss to Indiana. Even then, it wasn’t enough to earn a top-four spot, so Oregon got to host James Madison in the first round. After taking care of business without breaking a sweat, a showdown at the Sugar Bowl against Texas Tech loomed. Oregon owned a 6-0 halftime lead. As it was, that was enough. Oregon broke through for a 23-0 win, marking the first time in the 12-team era that a team was shut out.
It’s difficult to win twice in the same season. Last year, Oregon fell to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl rematch. This year, Ole Miss avenged its regular-season loss to Georgia to earn a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. Can the Ducks reverse their fate, or will Cignetti continue this magical, almost CFB26-line run?
When Indiana Has The Ball
Indiana is a complete team, but the offense has been the most impressive part of the Hoosiers’ game this year. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza earned the prestigious award by being efficient and dominating. On the year, Mendoza has thrown for 3,172 yards and 36 touchdowns while completing 72.3% of his passes. Against Alabama, he did everything he could to will the Hoosiers to victory by throwing for more touchdowns (three) than he had incompletions (two). He only threw for 192 yards in the win, but that’s all Indiana needed from him.
On the ground, the Hoosiers out-physicaled Alabama for 215 yards and two scores. Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black led the way with 89 and 99 yards, respectively. Both were able to score. Hemby was the leader for the Hoosiers on the ground all year, and he was able to earn over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.
The Indiana offense’s job against the Oregon defense is going to be tough. Either way, the Hoosiers come into this game with the third-best scoring offense, seventh-best total offense, 11th-best rushing offense, and 47th-best passing offense.
Oregon’s Top-Flight Defense
In the regular season, Indiana’s 326 yards of offense were the second-highest allowed by this Oregon defense. Of course, Oregon was able to lean on that defense to completely shut down Texas Tech last week. This is a completely different offensive attack, but the Ducks should be ready.
Teitum Tuioti and Brandon Finney took over the Orange Bowl in the win. Tuioti now has 16 tackles for loss on the year, while Finney hauled in his second and third interceptions on the year. His first interception came in that October match against Indiana, resulting in a pick-six.
Oregon’s defense has been a strength and will be tasked with improving from its first meeting against Indiana. As a unit, it comes into this game with the fourth-best passing defense, sixth-best scoring defense, sixth-best total defense, and 19th-best in rushing defense.
When Oregon Has the Ball
Despite having a receiver room decimated by injury, Dante Moore has finally looked like the elite, NFL-bound quarterback he was billed to be. In the CFP, Moore has thrown for 547 yards and four touchdowns through two games. Of course, he was held out of the endzone against Texas Tech.
However, with a running back attack of Noah Whittington, Jordon Davison, and Dierre Hill Jr., Moore isn’t asked to do too much. Davison and Hill might be the most dynamic true freshmen duo we’ve seen in a while. Davison has broken out to the tune of 667 yards and 15 touchdowns on 113 carries. All three backs are home-run threats on any given play. Together, the three average 6.6 yards per carry.
The Ducks come into the Peach Bowl with the ninth-best scoring offense, 14th-best total offense, 15th-best rushing offense, and 41st-best passing offense.
The Hoosier Defense
Despite not having leading defender Stephen Daley, the Hoosiers looked fine on defense against Alabama. Of course, having three defenders with double-digit tackles for loss helps. Linebackers Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones have been everywhere for the defense and led the way in the first matchup. Jones even hauled in an interception in addition to two tackles for loss and a sack.
Indiana will have to lean on its turnover-causing machine of a defense again in this one. As a team, the Hoosiers forced 17 interceptions, 11 fumbles, and recovered nine fumbles. Don’t be expected if Louis Moore or Amare Farrell come down with a massive interception.
Indiana’s defense has been elite all season. The Hoosiers own the second-best scoring defense, second-best rushing defense, second-best overall defense, and 18th-best passing offense.
Last Word on the Peach Bowl
This looks to be every bit the heavyweight matchup a College Football Playoff Semifinal should be. Indiana has looked the part of the best team in the nation all year, despite only attaining that ranking from beating Ohio State. Cignetti has a legitimate argument to be the top coach in all of college football because how many coaches out there could lead Indiana to this point, let alone in his second year?
Meanwhile, Oregon’s defense looked impenetrable against Texas Tech. Sure, that was a known deficiency of the Red Raiders, but that was complete dominance.
No matter who wins this one, the Big Ten will have its third representative in the National Championship game in as many years.
Will Indiana continue its incredible run, win its first Peach Bowl, and make the program’s first National Championship? Or will Oregon win its first Peach Bowl to get back to that National Championship? Neither program has ever won a title, so it’s fitting.
Bottom Line on the Peach Bowl
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
History: Series tied 2-2
Last Matchup: Indiana won, 30-20, in October
Last Oregon Win: 29-21 in 1964
Date and Time: January 9, 7:30 p.m. EST
How to Watch: ESPN
Spread: Indiana -4.5; O/U 46.5 (via FanDuel)
