Indiana vs. Oregon | How to watch, betting info, pick and more for the CFP semifinal | IU Sports

ATLANTA, Ga. (WDRB) -- The last time Indiana and Oregon met, it was a proving ground. This time, it's a proving ground with a ticket to the national championship.

Back in mid-October, few outside Bloomington thought Indiana could go into Eugene and come out with a win. Oregon had the flashier players, the playoff history, the home crowd, the expectations. Indiana had momentum, a top-10 ranking and something harder to define.

Call it belief. Call it buy-in. Call it the cold-eyed, businesslike resolve that has become the hallmark of Curt Cignetti's program.

Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford

That night, Indiana controlled the line of scrimmage, forced two turnovers and blanked the Ducks passing game for a second-half shutout in a 30-20 win. It wasn't flashy. But it was final.

Except it wasn't.

Now they meet again, indoors at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with a national championship berth on the line. It's the kind of game Indiana fans used to dream about, before Fernando Mendoza, before the Heisman, before the Rose Bowl demolition of Alabama.

But this is no longer a dream. Indiana is 14-0. It owns wins over Alabama, Oregon and Ohio State. It has a Heisman quarterback, an elite defense and a team that makes fewer mistakes than any in college football.

Oregon, meanwhile, has regrouped. Since losing to Indiana, the Ducks have rattled off eight straight wins, leaned into their defensive depth, and unleashed transfer QB Dante Moore for one of the nation's most explosive offenses. They're faster now, smarter, healthier and, undoubtedly, a little hungrier.

The Ducks haven't forgotten October. But neither have the Hoosiers. And they're playing like a team that wants to leave no doubt.

Time

No. 1 Indiana (14-0) vs. No. 5 Oregon (13-1), CFP Semifinal at the Peach Bowl

Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (71,000), Atlanta

How to watch and listen

TV: ESPN (Sean McDonough play-by-play, Greg McElroy analyst, Katie George and Molly McGrath sidelines. Streaming: ESPN app

RADIO: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer play-by-play, Rhett Lewis analyst, Joe Smith sideline. Streaming: IUHoosiers.com / IU mobile app. Satellite: Sirius 84, XM 84, SXM App 84.

The line

Spread: Indiana -3.5. Over/Under: 48.5. Moneyline: Indiana -185, Oregon +154

Notes: Indiana is 9-5 against the spread this season, 2-0 in the postseason, with an average cover margin of 12.64 points. Oregon has won 8 straight since losing to Indiana on Oct. 11. Oregon is 8-6 against the spread this season.

Coaches

Indiana: Curt Cignetti (25-2 in his second season at IU; 144-37 in his 15th season overall)

Oregon: Dan Lanning (48-7 in his fourth season at Oregon and overall)

Players to Watch

INDIANA

QB Fernando Mendoza: Heisman winner. 36 TDs, 6 INTs, 3 total TDs in Rose Bowl rout of Alabama
RBs Roman Hemby & Kaelon Black: 199 total yards, 2 TDs in Rose Bowl
WR Omar Cooper Jr.: Reliable target and third-down machine
DB Devan Boykin: Disruptive presence in the backfield
DE Mikail Kamara: Veteran edge with 4 pressures vs. Alabama
RG Bray Lynch: Flawless protection vs. Alabama; no blown blocks

OREGON

QB Dante Moore: 26-for-33 in Orange Bowl win; shaky in earlier IU matchup
RB Noah Whittington: Top back with Jordon Davison (out) sidelined
WR Malik Benson: 10 catches, 170 yds in CFP; Moore's go-to target
OLB Teitum Tuioti: 2.5 sacks, 6 pressures in two playoff games
DB Brandon Finney Jr.: 2 INTs, 1 fumble recovery vs. Texas Tech
S Dillon Thieneman: Transfer from Purdue; 17 tackles in CFP

The Notebook

REMATCH: Indiana beat Oregon 30-20 on Oct. 11 in Eugene, the Ducks' only loss.
PLAYOFF PEDIGREE: Oregon is 3-2 all-time in CFP games; Indiana is making its first appearance.
THIRD DOWN DOMINANCE: The Hoosiers lead the nation in 3rd down offense (56.5%) and rank 2nd in 3rd down defense (28.0%).
OREGON SURGE: The Ducks have allowed 14 points or fewer in 9 games this season and lead
BIG-PLAY THREATS: Both teams rank Top 5 nationally in explosive plays — Oregon (1st), Indiana (5th).
HISTORIC BLOWOUT: Indiana handed Alabama its first 30-point loss of the 21st century in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl.
RUNNING TO PAYDIRT: In 27 games under Cignetti, has rushed for multiple touchdowns in 21 of them (and has a record of 20-1 in those games).
SACK LUNCHES: Indiana has 41 sacks on the season, just its second 40-sack season in school history
ACCURACY PLUS: Fernando Mendoza's postseason completion percentage is 74.4 percent, and it was 87.5 percent in his first CFP game against Alabama.
RECORD BREAKER: Cignetti's 25 wins in his first two seasons are more than any coach in Big Ten history (topping Urban Meyer at Ohio State, who had 24).
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHT-UPS: Indiana is 2-0 in Friday nights this season, with a winning margin of 129-3 in those games.
HOLD THE BALL: Indiana lost a fumble in the first quarter of its first game this season. It hasn't lost another one since.
CLEAN SECONDARY: Indiana's defensive backfield has been flagged for pass interference only twice all season.
NO DROPS: In 332 targets, Indiana receivers have dropped only six Fernando Mendoza passes all season
FIRST DOWN FORCE: Indiana has averaged 5.9 yards per carry on first down this season.

The Pick

Indiana 27, Oregon 20

It's hard to beat a great team twice — but Indiana isn't just good, it's methodical, veteran-laden and unflappable. The Hoosiers' line play, third-down dominance, and quarterback efficiency give them an edge over an Oregon team that's explosive and uber-talented but slightly more mistake-prone. Expect a tighter game than October's meeting, but a similar result. The Hoosiers march on to 15-0.