ATLANTA, Ga. — “Google me. I win.”
It was Curt Cignetti’s now-famous line when he accepted the Indiana Hoosiers’ head football coach position in 2024, responding to a question about how he’d attract recruits.
Google him now. The results speak for themselves.
Hoosiers Shock Oregon, Advance to National Championship
Table of Contents
Indiana’s improbable postseason run continues after a dominant 56-22 victory over the Oregon Ducks in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Indiana’s bowl history hadn’t exactly inspired confidence. Prior to this season, the Hoosiers held a lifetime bowl record of 14-3. Their previous Rose Bowl appearance, back in 1967, ended in a 14-3 loss. Two Peach Bowl appearances in 1987 and 1990 also resulted in defeats. But tonight, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., those past disappointments felt galaxies away.
I’ll admit, I initially thought the stage might be too large for Indiana at the Peach Bowl. I was wrong. Spectacularly so.
A Postseason Upset Train
Alabama, a program steeped in championship tradition, was the first victim of Indiana’s postseason surge. Oregon, boasting 37 bowl game appearances, was the next. And now, after tonight’s performance, I’m convinced the lights won’t be too bright for Cignetti’s squad when they face Miami in the National Championship on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla.
The game’s opening play set the tone: DeAngelo Ponds intercepted Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and returned it for a touchdown. From there, it was a long night for the Ducks. The Hoosiers built a commanding 35-10 halftime lead and cruised to a 56-22 victory, securing their first-ever trip to the National Championship.
The sea of Indiana fans was palpable even before entering the stadium. I’d estimate roughly 85 percent of the crowd was clad in cream and crimson, a testament to the program’s passionate following. Fans expressed confidence before the game, and their belief was rewarded.
Expanding the Playoff, Expanding Possibilities
The expanded College Football Playoff was designed to give more teams a chance to compete for a championship, and Indiana has seized that opportunity. Before the CFP, they upset Ohio State to win the Big Ten Championship, then dominated Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl. Now, they’ve dismantled Oregon. As I write this, I’m already seeing analysis of Indiana’s odds against Miami.
Indiana’s success isn’t solely reliant on Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, though he’s undoubtedly a key component. Oregon’s defense, which allowed an average of 16.3 points per game during the regular season, surrendered 56 to the Hoosiers. While Oregon limited opponents to 271.4 total yards per game, Indiana racked up 362. Mendoza threw for 177 yards and five touchdowns, proving efficient and effective.
Oregon’s early pick-six certainly didn’t help their cause, but this wasn’t a case of Indiana getting lucky. This was a complete and utter domination.
And it’s genuinely exciting to see a new contender emerge, especially one that performs with such conviction and deserves to be in the National Championship conversation.
As a Big Ten devotee, and a native of Ohio, I find myself saying something I never thought I would:
If Indiana plays with the same intensity and execution in the National Championship, I believe Curt Cignetti will have a National Championship title attached to his name the next time you Google him.
