Peach Bowl: No. 1 Indiana def. No. 5 Oregon 56-22
Undefeated No. 1 Indiana delivered a dominant performance in the Peach Bowl semifinal, overwhelming No. 5 Oregon 56–22 to advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. The Hoosiers set the tone immediately when cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Oregon quarterback Dante Moore’s first pass and returned it for a touchdown just 11 seconds into the game. Indiana never looked back, racing to a 35–7 halftime lead behind a dominant defense and an efficient, explosive offense.
Indiana’s defense fueled the rout by forcing multiple turnovers that directly led to scores, while limiting Oregon to just nine rushing yards on 17 carries in the first half. With top Ducks rushers Noah Whittington and Jordon Davison sidelined by injury, Oregon struggled to generate any offensive rhythm. After Oregon briefly answered with a 75-yard touchdown drive, the Hoosiers seized complete control, scoring touchdowns on five of their first six offensive possessions, including two short-field drives following Oregon fumbles.
Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza was outstanding once again, completing 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns. Indiana’s ground game complemented the passing attack, with 185 rushing yards on 40 carries with three different backs gaining at least 40 yards. The Hoosiers’ balanced offense and relentless defense turned the semifinal into a one-sided game.
With the win, No. 1 Indiana improved to 15–0 and secured a spot in the national championship game, where they will face No. 10 Miami on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Fiesta Bowl: No. 10 Miami def. No. 6 Ole Miss 31-27
No. 10 Miami earned its place in the national championship game with a thrilling 31–27 win over No. 6 Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl, capped by a dramatic late touchdown run from quarterback Carson Beck. In a game defined by momentum swings and late drama, Beck scrambled for a 3-yard touchdown with just 18 seconds remaining, finishing a grueling 15-play, 75-yard drive that sealed the Hurricanes’ third consecutive postseason upset over a higher-seeded opponent.
The fourth quarter featured four lead changes, with Ole Miss briefly taking a 27–24 lead on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Trinidad Chambliss to Dae’Quan Wright with 3:13 remaining. That score, however, left just enough time for Beck and the Miami offense, which controlled possession for much of the night but struggled to put the Rebels away. Beck responded with poise, lead the decisive drive and scoring his first rushing touchdown since Week 3.
Beck finished 23 of 37 for 268 yards with two passing touchdowns and one interception, while also contributing the game-winning score on the ground. Miami rushed for 191 yards and overcame 10 penalties and a costly interception to advance. Freshman Malachi Toney provided a pivotal moment earlier in the fourth quarter, turning a short pass into a 36-yard touchdown to give Miami a 24–19 lead. Toney finished with five catches for 81 yards, while Keenan Marion added seven receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Ole Miss had one final chance, driving to Miami’s 35-yard line in the closing seconds, but Chambliss’ hail mary into the end zone fell incomplete as time expired. With the win, Miami advanced to its first national championship game since 2001 and will face No. 1 Indiana on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium, with a chance to win the program’s first title in more than two decades.
College Football Playoff Championship Matchup
- National Championship Game: (No. 1) Indiana vs. (No. 10) Miami on Jan. 19
