For the fourth time on this Faculty Soccer Playoff, a rematch is on deck. No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Oregon will meet once more Friday night time on the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. The earlier three rematch outcomes suggests this sequel might favor the Geese — groups that received the regular-season assembly are 1-2 on this CFP — a actuality Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti readily acknowledged.
“Onerous to beat a workforce twice, so edge to Oregon there,” Cignetti stated final Friday.
Indiana, nonetheless unbeaten, handed Oregon its solely lack of the season again on Oct. 11 in Eugene, overcoming a fourth-quarter pick-6 thrown by quarterback Fernando Mendoza to drag away for a 30-20 win.
CFP predictions: Why Indiana will win all of it | Why Oregon will win a nationwide title
Friday’s nationwide semifinal marks uncharted territory for Indiana, a program nonetheless in search of its first acknowledged nationwide championship in soccer. Oregon, in the meantime, is making its second nationwide semifinal look of the CFP period, nonetheless chasing a title of its personal after arising quick within the championship video games following the 2010 and 2014 seasons.
The place to look at Indiana vs. Oregon reside
Date: Friday, Jan. 9 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta, Georgia
TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (Strive without spending a dime)
Indiana vs. Oregon: Gamers to look at in Peach Bowl
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana: The Heisman Trophy winner had extra landing passes (3) than incompletions (2) within the Hoosiers Rose Bowl win in opposition to Alabama. Mendoza already set the single-season program document for many landing passes (36) and is at the moment third in single-season passing yards (3,172).
Rolijah Hardy, LB, Indiana: The Hoosiers’ particular person deal with chief this season with 93 whole stops, Hardy was key within the win in opposition to Oregon through the common season. He had 13 tackles, together with two for loss with a sack. Hardy earned second-team All-Huge Ten honors this season.
D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana: Ponds earned Defensive Participant of the Sport on the Rose Bowl, including to his record of honors that features being named second-team All-America by CBS Sports activities. He has but to permit a landing reception in protection and simply 27 catches on 50 targets, based on Professional Soccer Focus.
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon: Moore had an total shaky efficiency within the Orange Bowl win regardless of finishing 78.8% of his passes. Nonetheless, he has blossomed into one of many nation’s premier quarterbacks and might be a top-five decide within the 2026 NFL Draft if he opts to forgo his last 12 months of eligibility. The Geese’ signal-caller ranks third nationally in completion proportion (72.9%), seventh in passer score (166.73), eighth in passing touchdowns (28) and 14th in yards per try (8.8), showcasing his precision.
Jordon Davison, RB, Oregon: Oregon deploys a balanced, three-man rotation within the backfield, however Davison has emerged as its most harmful finisher. Regardless of sharing carries with Noah Whittington and Dierre Hill Jr., the true freshman has piled up 667 yards on 113 rushes and located the tip zone 15 occasions on the bottom — a complete that ranks among the many nationwide leaders.
Brandon Finney Jr., DB, Oregon: The true freshman performed an enormous position within the Geese’ shutout win within the Orange Bowl, snagging two interceptions and a fumble restoration. Finney turned simply the second participant in CFP historical past with three takeaways in a recreation.
Indiana vs. Oregon prediction, decide
Curt Cignetti is not incorrect — beating a workforce twice in a single season isn’t any small activity. Nonetheless, there is no motive to doubt the Hoosiers. Oregon’s shutout win within the CFP quarterfinal over Texas Tech appeared spectacular on paper, however the Geese’ offense struggled to search out rhythm in opposition to a good Tech protection. This Indiana protection is arguably higher total. The Hoosiers stay the one workforce to beat Oregon at dwelling within the final 23 video games, and getting them on a impartial area, plus factoring in one other lengthy journey to Atlanta after South Florida, provides the Hoosiers an actual edge. Prediction: Indiana -4.5
