ATLANTA –– Waves of Cream and Crimson shuffled into Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Friday for No. 1 Indiana football’s College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against No. 5 Oregon. The Hoosier faithful made their presence known throughout the stadium prior to kickoff, erupting in “Hoo-Hoo-Hoo-Hoosiers" chants before and after the National Anthem.
With a home crowd feel in Atlanta, the Hoosiers dominated Oregon 56-22 on Friday, clinching IU’s first National Championship Game berth in program history.
Indiana carried the crowd’s momentum into the first play from line of scrimmage. Junior defensive back D’Angelo Ponds jumped in front of an out-route and intercepted Oregon redshirt sophomore quarterback Dante Moore. Ponds ran the ball back 25 yards for a touchdown to the beat of the crowd rocking the stadium with noise.
Moore settled in on Oregon’s ensuing possession, leading the Ducks on a 14-play, 75-yard drive, capped off by a 19-yard touchdown pass to redshirt sophomore tight end Jamari Johnson.
But it was all Indiana for the remainder of the first half.
Redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza took the field for the first time following the Ducks’ touchdown with just over seven minutes left in the first quarter. He completed a 23-yard pass to senior wide receiver Elijah Sarratt, setting the Hoosiers up in Oregon territory.
Following the completion, Indiana broke down the Oregon defense through the run game. Redshirt senior running back Roman Hemby ripped off 12-yard and 11-yard rushes, before Mendoza found redshirt junior wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. for an 8-yard touchdown.
Two Oregon possessions later, Moore turned the ball over a second time. As he brought the ball back to pass, it clipped the arm of freshman running back Dierre Hill Jr., causing a fumble. Indiana sophomore defensive lineman Mario Landino fell on the ball, setting the Hoosiers up at the Oregon 3-yard line.
Indiana redshirt senior running back Kaelon Black punched the ball in from one yard out to grant the Hoosiers a 21-7 advantage.
The Hoosiers kept their foot on the gas pedal on their ensuing possession. Mendoza found sophomore wide receiver Charlie Becker in the endzone for a leaping 36-yard touchdown.
Meanwhile, the Indiana defense continued its dominance. Sophomore defensive lineman Daniel Ndukwe picked up a strip sack on Moore.
Mendoza capitalized off Oregon’s second fumble of the night, as the quarterback hit Sarratt for a 2-yard touchdown. Indiana took a commanding 35-7 lead into the halftime locker room.
Coming out of halftime, the Indiana offense continued humming. Mendoza connected with sixth-year redshirt senior wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr. for the Hoosiers’ sixth touchdown of the night.
The Ducks followed up the Indiana touchdown with their second touchdown of the night –– a 2-yard rushing score from redshirt junior running back Jay Harris in the third quarter.
However, Sarratt tacked on a 3-yard receiving touchdown, and Black added a 23-yard rushing score to bring the Hoosiers’ advantage to 56-15.
Moore added a 1-yard passing touchdown to bring the final score to 56-22.
Mendoza finished the semifinal game 17 of 20 for 177 yards and five touchdowns.
Indiana will now face the No. 10 University of Miami with a national championship title on the line at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19 inside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
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