AT A GLANCE
- The College Football Playoff semifinals are set: Indiana will face Oregon in a Peach Bowl rematch, while Miami meets Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl with national title berths on the line.
- Indiana is the lone top-seed to advance after a dominant 38–3 Rose Bowl win over Alabama, reinforcing that the Hoosiers’ earlier road victory at Oregon was no fluke.
- Indiana vs. Oregon features a marquee quarterback showdown between Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore, both projected top picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, with Mendoza chasing a rare Heisman–national title double.
- Miami and Ole Miss reflect college football’s new era, shaped by transfer portal moves, NIL money, and coaching upheaval, as Carson Beck and Trinidad Chambliss lead programs two wins from a championship.
Road to the Title Narrows as College Football’s Final Four Is Set
The College Football Playoff field has been narrowed to four, with Indiana, Oregon, Miami and Ole Miss advancing out of the quarterfinal round to set up two high-stakes semifinal matchups. Dominant performances, program-defining wins and a mix of traditional power and modern-era roster construction now frame the final path to the national championship.
Indiana and Oregon Set for High-Stakes Rematch
When Indiana met Oregon in October, the game served as the clearest test yet of whether the Hoosiers were a one-year curiosity or a program built to last. Indiana answered that question with a double-digit road win that snapped Oregon’s 18-game home winning streak, and now the stakes are even higher. A trip to the national championship game will be on the line when the teams meet again next week.
Thursday’s College Football Playoff quarterfinals delivered two Big Ten blowouts that locked in the semifinal field. Indiana overwhelmed Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl, while Oregon shut out Texas Tech 23-0 in the Orange Bowl, setting up a rematch between the Hoosiers and Ducks in the Peach Bowl. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti brushed aside any suggestion that the moment might be too big for his team, asking rhetorically why it would be, just because the name on the jersey says Indiana. The Hoosiers were also the only team among the eight first-round bye recipients in the two-year history of the expanded playoff to advance past the quarterfinals.
Indiana, the top seed at 14-0, opened as a four-point favorite over No. 5 Oregon, which enters the semifinal at 13-1, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. That line reflects a reversal from October, when the Ducks were favored by 7.5 points before Indiana handed them a 30-20 loss. The Hoosiers’ dismantling of Alabama may have been their most complete performance since that win in Eugene.
Quarterback Duel Headlines the Peach Bowl
The headline matchup in the Peach Bowl centers on the quarterbacks. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore are widely projected as the top two picks in the 2026 NFL draft. Mendoza is chasing a rare double, aiming to join a small group of quarterbacks who have won both the Heisman Trophy and a national championship in the same season. He said the focus now turns to film study and preparation, stressing respect for Oregon and the challenge ahead.
In the earlier meeting, Oregon defensive back Brandon Finney briefly swung momentum by returning an interception for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Indiana responded with a touchdown drive, followed by another interception and a field goal to pull away for a double-digit victory over the reigning Big Ten champions.
Oregon enters the semifinal off a defensive shutout of Texas Tech, forcing four turnovers, while coach Dan Lanning emphasized the need for self-scouting and adjustment ahead of the rematch.
Miami and Ole Miss Meet in the Fiesta Bowl
The other national semifinal will feature Miami against Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl next Thursday. Ole Miss, now 2-0 since the abrupt departure of coach Lane Kiffin, rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat Georgia 39-34 in the Sugar Bowl. The sixth-seeded Rebels improved to 13-1 and continued what has already been the most successful season in program history.
The matchup reflects the modern realities of college football. Miami quarterback Carson Beck transferred from Georgia after an injury in the SEC championship game ended his season and sent his draft stock sliding, eventually landing in Miami on a reported $4 million NIL deal. Ole Miss, meanwhile, steadied itself after Kiffin left for LSU, with Pete Golding taking over a roster that refused to unravel.
Final Four Reflects College Football’s New Era
Beck will face Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who led Division II Ferris State to a national title last season and now sits two wins away from a Division I championship. Chambliss credited the Rebels’ unity and resilience, saying the group stayed focused on its goal through a turbulent season.
With Indiana, Oregon, Miami and Ole Miss left standing, football’s final four blends traditional postseason pressure with the evolving forces shaping the sport. By next week, two of those teams will move on with a chance to claim the national title.
