EUGENE, Ore. — Fernando Mendoza accounted for 215 passing yards plus a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown, and No. 7 Indiana maintained their unblemished record with a 30-20 triumph over No. 3 Oregon on Saturday.
Roman Hemby contributed a couple of touchdown runs for the Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten), who stymied the Ducks (5-1, 2-1) via formidable defensive efforts.
The victory marked Indiana’s second against an AP top-five opponent in program annals. Prior to Saturday, the Hoosiers had dropped 46 consecutive contests vs. AP top-five opponents, a mark tied with Wake Forest for the lengthiest such streak in the AP poll era, according to ESPN Research.
Dante Moore accumulated 186 passing yards and a touchdown, though he also threw two interceptions and was sacked on six occasions during Oregon’s initial Big Ten regular-season defeat. The loss ended an 18-game winning streak at Autzen Stadium, the lengthiest active streak across the nation.
With Oregon trailing 20-13 entering the fourth quarter, Brandon Finney intercepted Mendoza’s pass and returned it 35 yards to level the score with 12:42 remaining. Mendoza responded with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt with 6:23 left, affording Indiana the lead permanently.
During Oregon’s subsequent series, Moore’s pass was intercepted by Louis Moore, and Brendan Franke tacked on a 22-yard field goal for the Hoosiers with 2:06 left, establishing the final score.
“Our defensive unit was remarkable throughout the second half, our special teams performed consistently all day, and the offensive unit executed crucial plays when necessary,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti stated. “Mendoza prolonged plays, generating opportunities with his mobility. The play to Sarratt, without a doubt, was impactful, incredibly impactful.”
Both squads were returning from a week’s respite. In their preceding contest, the Ducks edged Penn State 30-24 in double-overtime on the road during the annual White Out game. The Hoosiers overcame Iowa 20-15 on the road.
When questioned about the magnitude of the victory for the Hoosiers’ program, Cignetti offered a grounded perspective.
“Well, it hinges on our subsequent actions,” he remarked. “Naturally, it’s a significant victory against the (No. 3 ranked) team nationally on their home field, where they boasted an 18-game winning streak, correct? It positions us favorably, provided we sustain our success, which necessitates that we approach Monday with diligence, humility, and a desire to improve.”
During the game’s opening series, the Ducks failed on a fourth-and-1 attempt, granting the Hoosiers favorable field position for their initial drive. The drive concluded with Nico Radicic’s 42-yard field goal.
Oregon surged ahead courtesy of Moore’s 44-yard touchdown pass to Malik Benson, yet Hemby countered with a 3-yard touchdown rush prior to the end of the first quarter, establishing a 10-7 score.
Atticus Sappington’s 40-yard field goal evened the score for the Ducks, though a subsequent 36-yard attempt that could have provided Oregon with the lead sailed wide left.
Franke converted a 58-yard field goal as time expired, granting Indiana a 13-10 advantage at halftime.
Sappington’s 33-yard field goal during the third quarter once more tied the score for Oregon, yet Hemby notched his second touchdown for the Hoosiers, a two-yard run late in the period.
The defeat presented a valuable learning opportunity, according to Oregon coach Dan Lanning.
“We were lacking a potent element today,” Lanning noted. “Individuals often seek to pinpoint specific players as the root cause. However, it was a collective effort, wasn’t it? A team loss, precisely. Their team outperformed us. It wasn’t solely attributable to Dante. It encompassed the entirety of the group, the coaching personnel, and the players.”
