EUGENE, Ore. — Fernando Mendoza threw for 215 yards and a key touchdown in the fourth quarter, and No. 7 Indiana remained undefeated with a 30-20 victory over No. 3 Oregon on Saturday.
Roman Hemby added a pair of scoring chances for the Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten), who upset the Ducks (5-1, 2-1) with tenacious defensive play.
Dante Moore threw for 186 yards and a touchdown for Oregon. He had two interceptions and was sacked six times.
With Oregon down 20-13 early in the fourth quarter, Brandon Phinney intercepted Mendoza's pass and ran it back 35 yards to tie the game with 12:42 left.
Mendoza answered with an eight-yard scoring pass to Elijah Surratt with 6:23 remaining. On Oregon's next series, Moore's pass was intercepted by Louis Moore.
Brendan Franke added a 22-yard field goal for the Hoosiers with 2:06 left.
Both sides received a week's break. In their last game, the Ducks beat Penn State 30-24 in double overtime on the road in the annual White Out game. The Hoosiers beat Iowa 20-15 on the road.
On the first series of the game, the Ducks failed on fourth-and-1, giving the Hoosiers good field position for their first drive. It all ended with Niko Radicic's 42-yard field goal.
Oregon took the lead on Moore's 44-yard pass to Malik Benson, but Hemby rushed for a three-yard touchdown before the end of the first quarter to make it 10-7.
Atticus Sappington's 40-yard field goal tied the game for the Ducks, but a later 36-yard attempt that would have given Oregon the lead went wide left.
As time expired, Franke kicked a 58-yard field goal to give Indiana a 13–10 lead at halftime.
Sappington's 33-yard field goal in the third quarter tied the game again in Oregon's favor, but Hemby added his second touchdown for the Hoosiers with a two-yard rush late in the period.
Oregon will no doubt fall while Indiana rises into the AP Top 25. The close game was reminiscent of last year's regular-season showdown between Oregon and Ohio State in Autzen, when the Ducks prevailed 32-31. This game could also have implications for the Big Ten title and the College Football Playoff, but the Ducks don't have the No. 1 Buckeyes on this year's schedule. Hoosiers too.
Indiana: Hosts Michigan State next Saturday.
Oregon: At Rutgers next Saturday.
