MIAMI GARDENS, FL. When Indiana faced Oregon in October, the game served as the best test of whether the Hoosiers were a one-year wonder or a program for the long haul.
They were up to the task with a double-digit win, snapping Oregon's 18-game home winning streak. There's a rematch next week with a trip to the national title game on the line.
A pair of Big Ten eliminations in Thursday's quarterfinals — Indiana 38, Alabama 3 and Oregon 23, Texas Tech 0 — set up Oregon-Indiana Part 2 in the national semifinals at the Peach Bowl next Friday.
“Why would it be too big for them? Because the name is 'Indiana'?” Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti said after his team passed its final big test.
Indiana was the only team of eight to lose in the first round in the playoffs' two-year history to win the quarterfinals.
In the other semifinal, Miami will face Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl next Thursday. It will be a matchup between Hurricanes QB Carson Beck and the Rebels, who are currently 2-0 after the abrupt departure of coach Lane Kiffin. The sixth-ranked Rebels (13-1) came from a nine-point deficit at halftime to beat Georgia 39-34 on Thursday in the Sugar Bowl.
The top-seeded Hoosiers (14-0) opened as four-point favorites in a rematch with fifth-seeded Oregon (13-1), according to sportsbook BetMGM. In the October meeting, which Indiana won 30–20, the Ducks were 7.5-point favorites. The blowout win over the Crimson Tide may have been Indiana's most impressive performance since the win at Oregon.
In that case, Ducks cornerback Brandon Finney, who had two interceptions and a fumble recovery against Texas Tech, returned an interception and a touchdown to tie the game at 20 early in the fourth quarter. But Indiana responded with a touchdown, an interception and a field goal, leading to a double-digit victory over the previous season's Big Ten champion.
The most intriguing matchup in this game is not hard to find.
Defensive back Fernando Mendoza of Indiana and Oregon's Dante Moore are projected to be the top two picks on many 2026 draft boards. Mendoza is trying to join the rare list of quarterbacks (Jameis Winston, Cam Newton and Matt Leinart among them) who have won the Heisman and a national title in the same season.
“It’s going to be a great matchup, and respect to them all,” Mendoza said of the Ducks. “I need to get a game plan and start watching film now.”
Oregon overcomes Texas Tech's defensive dominance. The Ducks committed four turnovers that led to 13 points. Moore, meanwhile, was kept in check, throwing for 234 yards and no scores.
“We come back to this game and ask, 'What did we do really well?' Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “Let's go to the doctor and figure out what medicine we need to take for the next game. I think that's always the best indicator of what to do when you start to analyze what's in front of you.”
Ole Miss and Miami are meeting for the first time since 1951.
The 10th-ranked Hurricanes, who beat Ohio State on New Year's Eve, haven't faced Mississippi State since 1951. But this match is steeped in the modern realities of college football.
Beck, a Miami defensive tackle, played at Georgia last season, but an injury in the SEC title game ended his season and sent his draft stock plummeting.
Seeking a change of scenery, Beck rushed to Miami and offered a $4 million, zero-dollar deal. It was the first seismic move in the 2025 transfer portal.
In Oxford, the drama of Kiffin's departure to take a job at SEC rival LSU overshadowed the best season in program history but did not stop the title chase.
“We have a great group of people in the building,” said coach Pete Golding, who took over for Kiffin. “We have a lot of kids that go through a lot, but they were here the whole time for the kids, and this is a special group of kids.”
Opposite Beck will be Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss, who led Division II Ferris State to the national title last year. He is now two wins away from leading the Rebels to the Division 1 crown.
“Our resilience,” he said when asked how Ole Miss has overcome obstacles this year. “We just want to win, play football and have fun with our brothers. That's been our goal since the fall.”
