ATLANTA — No. 1 seed Indiana took control with an interception return for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and never let go for a 56-22 rout of No. 5 Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Peach Bowl.
The pick-six by D'Angelo Ponds sparked the latest jaw-dropping victory for a team that stands one win away from the most unexpected national championship in Bowl Subdivision history. Indiana will face No. 10 Miami in the title game on Monday, Jan. 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The Peach Bowl was a rematch of the Hoosiers’ 30-20 win at Autzen Stadium in October. Indiana becomes just the second team to beat an opponent in the regular season and then again in the playoff since the format debuted in 2014.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza was nearly perfect, completing 17 of 20 throws for 177 yards and finishing with more touchdowns, five, than incompletions. Wide receiver Elijah Surrat had 75 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Kaelon Black led the running game with a team-high 63 yards on 12 carries and two scores.
Donte Moore completed 24 of 38 passes for Oregon for 285 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Dierre Hill Jr. led the Ducks with 85 rushing yards, 71 coming on one long run, and Jay Harris added 35 yards on 16 carries.
