The Indiana Hoosiers are already a team that excels at taking away options from their opposition, and the Oregon Ducks have done some of the work for them leading into their College Football Playoff clash.
Oregon’s Ground Game in Crisis Creates Peach Bowl Opportunity for Indiana
Set to be without four running backs, including two who entered the transfer portal, Oregon’s sparsely populated RB room outside of veteran Noah Whittington will put even more pressure on Dante Moore, who’s been particularly mistake-prone as of late.
All Indiana has to do is get out to a lead with Fernando Mendoza and Co., and they’ll be in position to take Oregon’s balance away, bait mistakes out of the passing game with their coverage disguises, and control the game.
Jordon Davison, the true freshman who leads the Ducks with 15 rushing touchdowns, was officially ruled out for Friday’s Peach Bowl after suffering a broken clavicle in the Orange Bowl win over Texas Tech. The Oregon back finished that game despite the injury, punching in the final touchdown with 16 seconds left.
He won’t be suiting up in Atlanta.
The losses don’t stop there. Makhi Hughes, Jay Harris, and Jayden Limar have all entered the transfer portal, with Hughes already committed to the Houston Cougars.
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That’s four ball carriers gone, leaving Whittington (829 yards, six touchdowns) and true freshman Dierre Hill Jr. (570 yards, five touchdowns) as Oregon’s only viable options. Walk-on Zander Quinn hasn’t appeared in a game all season.
For context: Davison had 59 yards on eight carries against Indiana in the first meeting. He was Oregon’s most effective weapon on the ground that day. Now he’s watching from the sideline.
Indiana Already Has the Blueprint for Beating Oregon
Curt Cignetti’s defense held Oregon to just 81 rushing yards on 30 carries (2.7 yards per attempt) back in October. The Ducks couldn’t impose any physicality up front, and when they abandoned the run, Indiana’s coverage disguises devoured Moore.
The numbers were damning. Moore finished 21-of-34 for 186 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He was sacked six times. One opposing coach told CBS Sports that defensive coordinator Bryant Haines and his players “are great at disguising their looks pre-snap and giving you an entirely new picture after. They confused the shit out of our quarterback.”
That confusion hasn’t gone away. Moore has thrown at least one interception in three of his last four games, including the Orange Bowl and first-round win over James Madison. His accuracy and decision-making have been inconsistent precisely when Oregon needs him most.
Indiana enters this game with the No. 2 scoring defense in the country, allowing just two touchdowns total over their last four games. The Hoosiers’ 41.2% pressure rate ranks fourth nationally. Their 9.2% sack rate ranks eighth. Against a one-dimensional Oregon attack, those numbers become even more dangerous.
Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner, doesn’t need to be spectacular. He just needs to be himself. If Indiana builds an early lead — something it’s done in nine blowout wins of 20 or more points — Oregon’s only path back is through the air.
That’s exactly where Indiana wants them.
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Dan Lanning has preached the “next man up” mentality all season. His players have responded to adversity before. But there’s a difference between replacing one starter and losing the heart of your offensive identity two days before a national semifinal.
The Ducks’ ground game ranked second among all CFP teams at 206.1 yards per game. Against Indiana’s front, without their leading touchdown scorer, that production isn’t coming.
Oregon can still win this game. Dante Moore has arm talent, and pass-catchers Malik Benson and Kenyon Sadiq remain dangerous. If Moore hits explosive plays early and keeps Indiana’s defense honest, the Ducks have a chance.
But “chance” isn’t what you want heading into a national semifinal. The Hoosiers already beat this team on their home field. They know how to rattle Moore. They know how to take away the run.
Now, Oregon has made their job easier by gutting its own backfield before the biggest game of the season. Indiana doesn’t need to adjust its game plan. It just needs to execute the one that already worked.
