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01/01 18:48 CST Oregon-Indiana headed for a rematch, this time with a spot in
the national title game at stake
Oregon-Indiana headed for a rematch, this time with a spot in the national
title game at stake
By EDDIE PELLS
AP National Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) --- When Indiana met Oregon in October, the game
served as the best test yet of whether the Hoosiers were a one-year wonder or a
program that was here to stay.
They met that challenge with a double-digit win that snapped Oregon's 18-game
home winning streak. Next week comes a rematch with a trip to the national
title game at stake.
A pair of Big Ten blowouts 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's ?Indiana?'" Hoosiers
coach Curt Cignetti said after his team passed its latest big-time test and
also became the first of seven teams with first-round byes in the two-year
history of the playoff to win their quarterfinal.
The other semifinal will feature Miami against the winner of Thursday's late
game --- Ole Miss vs. Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
The top-seeded Hoosiers (14-0) opened as a four-point favorite, according to
the BetMGM Sportsbook, in their rematch with No. 5 Oregon (13-1). The Ducks
closed as 7.5-point favorites in the October meeting that Indiana won 30-20.
This blowout win over the Crimson Tide might have been Indiana's most
impressive performance since the win at Oregon.
In that one, Ducks defensive back Brandon Finney, who had two interceptions and
a fumble recovery against Texas Tech, returned an interception for a touchdown
to tie the game at 20 early in the fourth quarter. But Indiana answered with a
touchdown drive, an interception and a field goal for a double-digit win over
the previous season's Big Ten champion.
The most intriguing matchup in this game isn't hard to find.
Quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza of Indiana Dante Moore of Oregon are projected as
the top two picks on many 2026 draft boards. Mendoza is trying to join a
rarified list of quarterbacks (among them, Jameis Winston, Cam Newton and Matt
Leinart) who have won the Heisman and the national title in the same season.
"It's going to be a great matchup, and all respect to them," Mendoza said of
the Ducks. "I've got to get the game plan and got to get to watching film now."
Oregon is coming off a defensive domination of Texas Tech. The Ducks created
four turnovers that led to 13 points. Moore, meanwhile, was held in relative
check, throwing for 234 yards and no scores.
"We go back look at this game, say ?What did we do really well?'" Oregon coach
Dan Lanning said. "Let's go to the doctor, let's figure out what kind of
medicine we have to take for the next game. I think that's always the best
indicator of what you have to do when you start to analyze what you have in
front of you."
The 10th-seeded Hurricanes, who beat Ohio State on New Year's Eve, will be in
the Fiesta Bowl next Thursday, with the tantalizing prospect of 'Canes QB
Carson Beck going against the team he left after last season, the Bulldogs.
___
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