Indiana vs. Oregon Expert Score Predictions: Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore set to battle it out for a spot in national championship

An elite quarterback battle will take place between Indiana and Oregon for a spot in the national championship.

Adam Holt, Brandon Little, Destin Adams, Tyler Forness
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We are just two days away from the College Football Playoff matchup between the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers and No. 5 Oregon Ducks in the semifinal. 

The winner of this game will advance to play either Ole Miss or Miami in the national championship. No matter who wins it all, we’re going to crown a new champion that we haven’t seen in years. Oregon is coming off of a win over Texas Tech, while Indiana defeated Alabama.

Let’s get into the predictions for this one from the A to Z staff. 

Indiana 24, Oregon 20

It’s hard to beat a team twice and that’s what Indiana will need to do to advance to the national championship. The Hoosiers impressed in a big way by throttling Alabama last week. If you didn’t believe they were for real after the win over Ohio State, there’s no reason you shouldn’t now. We have an elite quarterback battle on tap with this one — and it’ll be perhaps the top two quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza is the better quarterback and Curt Cignetti is on an absolute heater right now. With that being said — it’s hard to bet against that — and I’m taking Indiana in a close one. — Brandon Little 

Indiana 20, Oregon 17 

Beating a great team twice is very difficult. I do think enough time has passed that both teams feel like they are playing different opponents than in the first matchup in Eugene. Indiana is coming off one of their best showings of the entire year, while Oregon’s offense is coming off a lackluster performance against Texas Tech. Their defense smothered Tech’s offense, but Indiana’s is a different animal. 

I expect a lower-scoring game than we saw the first time around, with both teams focusing on the projected top two QBs in the 2026 NFL Draft, Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore. I trust Indiana’s defense and run game over Oregon’s, and I think that ends up being the difference, sending the Hoosiers to the national championship. — Destin Adams 

Indiana 20, Oregon 17

This Big Ten clash won’t be for the faint of heart. Even with two coaches with different styles and mantras, both Curt Cignetti and Dan Lanning are at the top of their craft. While leading in different ways, they’ve both gotten their teams to the final four. I like Indiana’s run defense to slow down a ground attack from the Ducks that has consistently provided timely, explosive plays. Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza has been surgical so far in the postseason, and he’ll need to continue that against one of the best young secondaries in CFB for Oregon. In the end, I think Indiana has just enough firepower on both sides of the ball to get it done. Their magical run continues. — Adam Holt

Indiana 34, Oregon 20

This Indiana team proved without a shadow of a doubt how legit they are with a 38-3 destruction of the Alabama Crimson Tide. They already faced the Oregon Ducks this season, beating them at Autzen Stadium 30-20. With this game being on a neutral field and the Hoosiers being battle-tested, watch that win get bigger, as Curt Cignetti’s squad gets a two-touchdown win. This isn’t a slight to the Ducks, as they are a great team. They just aren’t led by Fernando Mendoza. — Tyler Forness

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