Hoosiers Roll Past Oregon Behind Ponds’ Pick-Six, Five Mendoza TDs to Reach Title Game
Indiana Hoosiers to the Natty
If you thought the Alabama game was a statement, you just had to see tonight.
The Indiana Hoosiers are headed to Miami to face the Hurricanes for the National Championship. Who had this on their preseason card? I would bet it wasn’t many.
The Hoosiers dismantled Oregon tonight 56-22, and it didn’t take long to do damage. D’Angelo Ponds‘ 25-yard pick-six on the first play of the game set the tone for the night. Indiana forced three turnovers on the night and scored 21 points off said turnovers. This defense is just as impressive as the other side of the ball. They cause trouble, and are not to be taken lightly.
This Hoosiers team is on their way to being considered one of the best all-time teams in college football history to some. They may not be the most flashy, their numbers may not be gaudy, but they go to work and get the job done in a convincing way.
Fernando Mendoza could be the first Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback to win the national championship since Joe Burrow of 2019 at LSU. Tonight, Fernando had the most efficient night you could imagine, going 17 of 20 for 177 yards and five touchdowns.
The Hoosiers are a complete team, and early thoughts would make it hard for me to pick against them in the Natty, but you can’t just look over Miami either. Both teams have great defenses, but I will definitely give Indiana the edge offensively. This is one of the most balanced teams in the country. The ability to spread the rushing attack between Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby is one of the most underrated things about this offense.
The Hoosiers have scored 94 points combined in the two playoff games. Getting to and rattling Fernando Mendoza is a rare thing. He has only thrown five incompletions in 36 passing attempts in the playoffs. Miami’s defense is good, but will they be able to do anything that will knock Mendoza and the Hoosiers off their game? My early thoughts say no.
This Hoosiers team goes to work and has believed since day one, when everyone doubted. Now they are one win away from capping off a 16-0 National Championship season. Indiana has crossed off a lot of firsts this season, and the only thing left is to do that against Miami, in their home stadium. What a statement that would be for the Hoosiers.
