Indiana vs Oregon Football: Scores, Stats & Full Recap

Introduction

Indiana fans waited decades for a moment like this. The Hoosiers didn’t just beat Oregon once — they did it twice in the same season, on the biggest stages college football has to offer. The first win at Autzen Stadium silenced one of the loudest crowds in the country. The second, at the Peach Bowl, turned into a rout that sent Indiana to the national championship game. If you want the full story behind Indiana vs Oregon — the scores, the stats, the turning points, and what made these games historic — everything is right here.

What Was the Final Indiana vs Oregon Score in the Regular Season?

Short Answer: Indiana defeated Oregon 30–20 on October 11, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

Fernando Mendoza threw for 215 yards and delivered a clutch fourth-quarter touchdown, while Roman Hemby scored twice on the ground as the No. 7 Indiana Hoosiers upset No. 7 30-20 to maintain their unblemished record. 3 Oregon.

The win made national headlines for several reasons. It was Indiana’s first win over a top-five team since beating then-No. 3 Purdue 19-14 in 1967. It also snapped Oregon’s 18-game home winning streak at Autzen Stadium, the longest active streak in the nation at the time.

This was no fluke. Indiana vs Oregon in the regular season played out like a chess match — punishing defense, field goals, and one massive fourth-quarter swing.

What Was the Score When Indiana vs Oregon Met Again in the Peach Bowl?

Short Answer: Indiana crushed Oregon 56–22 in the College Football Playoff Semifinal (Peach Bowl) on January 9, 2026.

Undefeated Indiana overwhelmed No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl semifinal, with Fernando Mendoza throwing five scoring passes and the Hoosiers’ defense creating three first-half touchdowns through turnovers.

This Indiana vs Oregon rematch was no contest. Indiana appeared to claim at least 80% of the 75,604 fans in attendance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Ducks had no answer for a defense that simply refused to let them breathe.

Complete Box Score: Indiana vs Oregon — October 11, 2025

Sources: University of Oregon Athletics, CBS Sports, ESPN

Complete Box Score: Indiana vs Oregon — January 9, 2026 (Peach Bowl)

Sources: CBS Sports, NCAA.com, Yahoo Sports

How Did Indiana’s Defense Dominate Oregon in Both Games?

Defense separated Indiana from every team Oregon faced in 2025. This wasn’t a scheme that struggled against elite offenses — it was one built to take them apart.

In the regular season matchup, Dante Moore threw two interceptions and absorbed six sacks. Oregon’s offense, normally one of the most efficient in the Big Ten, never found a rhythm against Indiana’s defensive front.

The Peach Bowl was even more one-sided. On Oregon’s very first snap, cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Dante Moore’s pass intended for Malik Benson and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown — just 11 seconds into the game.

Before the regular season meeting, Indiana’s defense was allowing just 9.6 points per game (3rd in the country), 88.0 rushing yards per game (17th), and 133.4 passing yards per game (7th), while ranking second nationally in tackles for loss with 49.

Indiana vs Oregon, in both meetings, came down to one fact: Oregon’s offense could not handle Indiana’s defensive pressure.

How Did Fernando Mendoza Perform Against Oregon?

Fernando Mendoza is the reason Indiana vs Oregon went the way it did — both times. The Heisman Trophy winner played with a precision that Oregon’s defense simply couldn’t match.

Mendoza completed 72.3% of his passes for 3,172 yards with a 36–6 TD-to-interception ratio during the 2025 season, posting an elite 11.0 adjusted net yards per attempt and a 89.5 Total QBR.

In the Peach Bowl, he was nearly perfect. By the midpoint of the second quarter, Mendoza was 13-of-14 with four touchdowns. Including his Rose Bowl performance against Alabama, he had thrown just three incompletions combined across 30 pass attempts while throwing seven touchdowns.

Against Oregon specifically, Mendoza proved unflappable under pressure. He escaped the pocket, threw with precision from the pocket, and orchestrated fourth-quarter game-winning drives. Elijah Sarratt was his most reliable target across both Indiana vs Oregon matchups, catching the go-ahead score in the regular season game and adding a touchdown in the Peach Bowl.

What Happened Quarter by Quarter in the Regular Season Game?

The October 11 Indiana vs Oregon football score shifted multiple times, making it a genuine thriller until the final minutes.

First Quarter:

• Oregon took the early lead with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Dante Moore to Malik Benson
• Roman Hemby answered with a 3-yard rushing TD for Indiana; score tied 7-7

Second Quarter:

• Indiana kicker Brendan Franke hit a jaw-dropping 58-yard field goal as time expired
• Indiana led 13-10 at halftime

Third Quarter:

• Atticus Sappington connected on a 33-yard field goal to tie it again for Oregon at 13-13
• Hemby’s second rushing TD gave Indiana the lead, 20-13

Fourth Quarter:

• Brandon Finney intercepted Mendoza and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown, tying the game 20-20
• Mendoza answered with an 8-yard scoring strike to Elijah Sarratt with 6:23 remaining
• Indiana sealed the 30-20 win

Oregon coach Dan Lanning admitted afterward, “We didn’t have a fastball today. Their team played better than us.”

What Made the Peach Bowl Indiana vs Oregon So One-Sided?

Two things collapsed Oregon’s chances in Atlanta: turnovers and injuries.

Starting running back Noah Whittington barely played due to a lower leg injury, five-star freshman Jordon Davison had fractured his clavicle in the Orange Bowl, and No. 4 RB Jayden Limar had entered the transfer portal. The Ducks’ depth at running back was essentially gone.

Then the turnovers piled up. Moore fumbled twice in the first half. The first came when running back Dierre Hill Jr. accidentally knocked the ball out of Moore’s hand during a run-pass option. Indiana’s Mario Landino recovered it at the Oregon 3-yard line. Three plays later, Kaelon Black punched it in to give the Hoosiers a 21-7 lead they would never relinquish.

After Mendoza found Charlie Becker for a 28-7 lead, the score grew to 35-7 after Moore’s second fumble. Six plays later, Mendoza connected with Elijah Sarratt for a 2-yard touchdown, ending any hope the Ducks had.

Indiana vs Oregon in the Peach Bowl was over by halftime.

How Did Indiana’s Season Set Up This Rivalry Win?

Indiana entered the Peach Bowl at 14-0, the only undefeated team at the sport’s highest level. The journey to that point showed just how special this Hoosiers team was.

Indiana led the country in offensive success rate (53.6%) and down-set conversion rate (82.3%), ranked second in EPA per play, and led the nation on third-down conversions at 56.5%.

The Hoosiers had already beaten Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal, holding the Tide to 11 first downs and 23 rushing yards.

Indiana finished the season 16-0, winning the Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl, and CFP National Championship 27-21 over Miami (FL).

The Indiana vs Oregon games weren’t just wins. They were proof that a program once overlooked in the Big Ten had arrived at the highest level.

How Did Oregon’s Defense Stack Up Against Indiana’s Offense?

Oregon came into both matchups with one of the most respected defensive units in college football. The Ducks made it difficult — just not difficult enough.

Oregon’s defense held opponents to a 36.0% offensive success rate (13th nationally) and forced a 42.7% three-and-out rate (2nd). The pass defense ranked 6th in yards allowed per dropback, 8th in EPA per dropback, and 4th in opponent completion rate.

Dillon Thieneman was Oregon’s most tested defensive back in both Indiana vs Oregon games. Thieneman allowed only 9 completions on 19 targets for 107 yards across his coverage assignments all season, with an outstanding 12.2 defensive QBR and a 90.7 PFF grade.

Still, Mendoza’s precision and Indiana’s blocking schemes found answers every time Oregon tried to shut them down. The final scores — 30-20 and 56-22 — tell the story.

What Does the Indiana vs Oregon Series History Look Like?

These two programs don’t meet often. Before the 2025 season, the last time Indiana vs Oregon was played at the college football level was back in 2004 — when Indiana won as a 20-point road underdog. That previous result made the 2025 regular season matchup even more meaningful, since Oregon entered as a 7.5-point favorite at home.

Indiana won that 2004 game. Then waited 21 years. Then won again — twice in the same season.

The 2025 Indiana vs Oregon football series will go down as one of the defining storylines of a historic Hoosiers season.

Who Were the Standout Players in Indiana vs Oregon?

Indiana Hoosiers:

• Fernando Mendoza — Heisman Trophy winner; 5 TD passes in the Peach Bowl; key fourth-quarter drive in the regular season game
• Elijah Sarratt — go-ahead TD in the regular season; another score in the Peach Bowl; top receiving yardage in both games
• Roman Hemby — two rushing TDs in the regular-season win at Autzen
• D’Angelo Ponds — 25-yard pick-6 on the first play of the Peach Bowl
• Mario Landino — recovered two Moore fumbles in the Peach Bowl
• Kaelon Black — multiple rushing TDs in the Peach Bowl, including a 23-yard score
• Kellan Wyatt / Daniel Ndukwe — anchored the pass rush; six combined sacks in the regular season game

Oregon Ducks:

• Dante Moore — 186 yards passing in October; struggled with two fumbles and two interceptions across both games
• Malik Benson — 44-yard TD catch in the regular season game
• Brandon Finney — 35-yard interception return TD in the fourth quarter of the regular season game
• Jay Harris — 71-yard rushing attempt in the Peach Bowl during garbage time
• Dillon Thieneman — steady in coverage despite the final Indiana vs Oregon score

6 Frequently Asked Questions: Indiana vs Oregon Football

1. What was the Indiana vs Oregon score in the regular season?

Indiana won 30-20 on October 11, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. It was a back-and-forth game that Indiana sealed with an Elijah Sarratt touchdown with six minutes left in the fourth quarter.

2. What was the Indiana vs Oregon score in the Peach Bowl?

Indiana won 56-22 on January 9, 2026, in Atlanta. The Hoosiers led 35-7 at halftime and were never threatened, advancing to the national championship game.

3. How many touchdowns did Mendoza throw against Oregon in the Peach Bowl?

Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdown passes in the Peach Bowl, finishing 13-of-14 in the first half alone. It was one of the most dominant quarterback performances in CFP semifinal history.

4. Did Oregon win any game against Indiana in 2025?

No. Indiana beat Oregon twice in the 2025 season — once in the regular season and once in the CFP Peach Bowl semifinal. Oregon finished 13-2, with both losses coming against Indiana.

5. Where was the Indiana vs Oregon Peach Bowl played?

The Peach Bowl was played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on January 9, 2026, with an attendance of 75,604 fans — the majority of whom were Indiana supporters.

6. Did Indiana win the national championship after beating Oregon?

Yes. After the Peach Bowl win over Oregon, Indiana defeated No. 10 Miami 27-21 in the CFP National Championship on January 19, 2026, finishing the season at 16-0 — the only undefeated national champion at that level.

The Big Picture: Why Indiana vs Oregon Matters Beyond the Scoreboard

Both meetings between Indiana and Oregon in 2025 weren’t just football games. They were proof of a program transformation that took years to build. Coach Curt Cignetti arrived at Indiana and built something the program had never seen before — a defense that ranked among the best in the country, an offense that led the nation in multiple efficiency categories, and a quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy.

Oregon, under Dan Lanning, built a legitimate contender too. The Ducks went 13-1 in the regular season and reached the CFP Semifinal. They faced a team that simply had no equal in 2025.

If you followed Indiana vs Oregon football across both matchups, you watched two programs give everything they had. One came away with both wins. The other will spend the offseason planning how to close that gap.

This rivalry has a new chapter now — and it’s one Indiana owns completely.