ATLANTA – No. 1 Indiana has advanced to its first College Football Playoff National Championship ever with a 56-22 win over No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl. The Hoosiers just embarrassed the Ducks on the biggest stage of college football so far this season.
D’Angelo Ponds jumped an out route on the first play of the game for a pick-six after watching Oregon quarterback Dante Moore stare down the entire play. An issue Moore’s had all year. Once Indiana was up 28-7 in the second quarter, Ponds had a reception for six yards in the redzone.
Daniel Ndukwe looked like Von Miller with two sacks, two tackles for loss, and a forced fumble in which he bull rushed the 327-pound Alex Harkey to get to Moore and strip sack him.
Charlie Becker was guarded by Brandon Finney Jr. all game, one of the best corners in college football, and Becker went up over top of him for a 36-yard touchdown. Becker ended with two receptions for 49 yards and the touchdown.
Two of the last three guys mentioned were not starters at the beginning of this season. Becker played meaningful snaps in the last six games. Ndukwe’s first start was the Rose Bowl, his second was the Peach Bowl. D’Angelo Ponds has been constantly overlooked due to his stature.
Curt Cignetti’s boys can ball. Every single one on the roster can play ball.
“I think it’s hard work, I think it’s trust in the system, I think it’s really good coaching,” said defensive coordinator Bryant Haines postgame about the players who’ve stepped up for Indiana.
The most important factor, the sea of red that looked like a bunch of seats to Oregon quarterback Dante Moore. Evidently, those seats got pretty loud.
“Shout out to Hoosier Nation because going on silent count, especially against the Ducks, is always tough and making the other team go on Sally count, that might have as well counted for some points,” Mendoza said postgame. Curt Cignetti agreed, “No doubt.”
The Indiana Hoosiers have completed the greatest turnaround ever. That’s a settled fact. Can they finish the story book ending? That’s the real question.
They easily can. This team is so strong in every single phase of the game, no one can find a weakness.
Indiana doesn’t beat themselves. Their worst break was a holding call that negated a 60-yard run by Kaelon Black.
IU was already up 27.
They adapt and know what’s coming from the other side at all times.
Anytime Indiana’s offense was in the redzone, man coverage beating routes were dialed up. EJ Williams, Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr., all scored on routes and concepts famous for embarrassing man defense.
Oregon had a short yardage heavy package, Haines sent out a 7-4 formation, the Hoosiers had seven defensive linemen and four linebackers to stuff the run. Which they did on fourth and one to end the third quarter.
At halftime, I was in shock and awe, I didn’t know what to think after bearing witness to the domination Indiana instilled on Oregon.
“I was trying to be Superman, and then the coaching staff settled me down and was like, hey, you don't gotta be Superman,” Mendoza said postgame. “We have a great defense, great superstars, playmakers on offense, so just do your job.”
Fernando Mendoza was 17 for 20 passing for 177 yards and five touchdowns. Five. Between his two career College Football Playoff games, he is 31 for 36 for 369 yards and eight touchdowns. Safe to say his Heisman Trophy doubters have been proven wrong.
His accuracy and playmaking ability is leaps and bounds above any other quarterback in college football. He makes the receivers better with ball placement and his receivers make him look like the best in the country by coming down with the ball.
Indiana’s rushing was where it needed to be, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. 4.6 times three gets Indiana a first down.
The defense created five turnovers, leading to 28 points for Indiana. They gave up a 19-yard touchdown and 71-yard run that led to points for Oregon. Otherwise, they were entirely lights out.
Then special teams blocked a punt in the fourth quarter. Mitch McCarthy delivered three punts for an average of about 47 yards. One pinning Oregon inside the five, another inside the 15. Every single phase of Indiana’s game was dominant. None of them have a notable issue.
“I think when you have good people and they buy in and they prepare the right way, we have a lot of those kind of guys,” Cignetti said postgame. “We've been very consistent in all three phases.”
Indiana has made it to the big one. They deserve to be here. They’ve silenced and blown away any doubt. They're the favorite because they're the best team in football.
The Indiana football team will play for their first National Championship on Monday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET against No. 10 Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Wow.
