No. 10 Miami has advanced to the College Football Playoff national championship game after defeating No. 6 Ole Miss 31-27 in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday.<\/p>\n
This year’s Fiesta Bowl, which took place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, served as the first of two semifinal matchups.<\/p>\n
No. 1 Indiana will play No. 5 Oregon on Friday in the Peach Bowl, and the winner will face Miami on Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.<\/p>\n
Here’s a quick look at those two teams as the riveting rematch of Indiana’s 30-20 win at Oregon on Oct. 11 approaches.<\/p>\n
Indiana is the best and most well-rounded team in the nation. The lone undefeated team remaining (14-0) is third in points per game (41.6) and second in fewest points allowed per game (10.3). Overall, Indiana has outscored its opponents 583-144.<\/p>\n
The Hoosiers also have done this against a No. 23 ranked strength of schedule<\/a>, so it isn’t as if Indiana has played cupcakes, with wins over Ohio State, Oregon and Alabama (of note). Indiana rolled into the CFP with a 13-0 record and Big Ten title and promptly crushed ‘Bama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl.<\/p>\n Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza is this team’s on- and off-field leader. For the season, the Cal transfer led Division I-FBS with 36 touchdowns, 9.6 yards per pass attempt and a 184.7 quarterback rating. <\/p>\n He could very well be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft and currently sits fifth overall (and first among quarterbacks) on the latest B\/R NFL Scouting Department big board<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Hoosiers also sported a dominant rushing attack led by Roman Hemby (1,007 rushing yards, seven scores) and Kaelon Black (898 rushing yards, eight touchdowns).<\/p>\n Wide receivers Omar Cooper Jr. (61 catches, 849 receiving yards, 12 touchdowns) and Elijah Sarratt (55\/727\/13) lead a fantastic pass-catching group.<\/p>\n The defense is tremendous as well. Linebacker Rolijah Hardy leads the unit with 92 tackles and eight sacks. <\/p>\n The Hoosiers are unfortunately without defensive lineman Stephen Daley, whose 19 tackles for loss lead the team. Daley sadly suffered a season-ending leg injury while extending himself to high-five fans after his team’s 13-10 win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game.<\/p>\n The Indiana secondary has been a major problem for opponents all year. Defensive back Louis Moore leads the Big Ten with six interceptions, and D’Angelo Ponds has amassed a team-high eight pass breakups.<\/p>\n Oregon’s lone loss was to Indiana. Otherwise, the 13-1 Ducks have been thoroughly dominant, outscoring their opponents 532-212. All but two of their 13 wins have been by two of more possessions.<\/p>\n The Ducks are led by former UCLA star Dante Moore at quarterback. The 20-year-old Moore has completed 72.9 percent of his passes for 3,280 yards and 28 touchdowns (nine picks). He’s ninth overall and second among quarterbacks on the B\/R big board and could very well be a top-two pick in the upcoming NFL draft.<\/p>\n