The Indiana Hoosiers (14-0) are just one win away from playing for a national championship. Let that soak in for a second. In a rematch from earlier in the season the Hoosiers will face the No. 5 Oregon Ducks. In the first game the Hoosiers toppled the Ducks 30-20 in Autzen Stadium, it was the Ducks only Big Ten home loss since joining the conference. IU will knock off the Ducks to win the Peach Bowl and raise the Victory Flag if…
1. Run the Ball and Stop The Run
It is a formula as old as time itself in the Big Ten. Whoever is able to run the ball better and stop the opponent from running the ball well will win the game. “We talk about the same thing every single game, line of scrimmage, run the ball, stop the run.” Cignetti said Thursday morning.
The Hoosiers ran the ball down Alabama’s throat in the Rose Bowl and have done so to most opponents this season. The Hoosiers are ranked 11th nationally in rush yards per game with 220.
Indiana offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan explained why the ground game is so important for the Hoosiers.
“The run game is where it all starts for us. Number one, it gets everybody in the flow of the game, especially the O-line, to allow those guys to kind of eat up front.” Shanahan said Wednesday night. “Our running backs do a really good job of keeping the ball moving forward. They’re really disciplined. They ran really hard in our last game, so we’re going to need a big game out of them. When you’re able to run the football, it creates favorable situations I guess you could say, for the receivers and the quarterback. Whenever you’re able to establish the run, it usually helps the quarterbacks in protection, as well, slows down the defensive line slightly.”
The Hoosiers only allowed 81 rushing yards in the first matchup with the Ducks. Oregon will be without running back Jordon Davison who is their go to red zone and short yardage back. His absence will affect an area that Oregon already struggled with against Indiana the first time around.
2. Win the Turnover and Explosive Play Battle
The Hoosiers lead the nation in explosive plays and that is what Oregon tried to take away in the first match up. They did a solid job, but Indiana does a good job taking what is given to them on offense. One of the differences this time around that could affect this area is the emergence of wide receiver Charlie Becker. In the Hoosiers last two games he has gashed the defense with big plays.
“(Becker’s) taken enormous steps. Just happy for him because he always put the work in. Even when he wasn’t getting a ton of reps early on in the year, always stayed ready. He was a guy that could play multiple positions. You saw last week he played in the slot quite a bit along with playing on the outside. So his flexibility has been a real key for us, as well.” IU offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan said.
Shanahan also said that Becker has given some relief to Omar Cooper as far as coverage goes as well as for the running game. “It’s one more weapon offense that teams need to account for. It’s hard to tilt coverage to somebody else. It’s hard to really stack the box in the run game I like to think.” he said
3. IU Has to Be Ready for Anything
I said this in my Match Up to Watch, but Indiana has to be ready for anything from Oregon. That means be on the look out for an early two point conversion out of a funky formation or a fake punt. The Ducks went for it on fourth down eight times, converting four of them, in the Orange Bowl win over Texas Tech. Oregon will be aggressive and IU needs to be on alert.
4. Protect Fernando Mendoza
If there is a soft spot on the IU offense it is when IU is in clear passing downs and the defense can pin their ears back and rush the passer. The Hoosiers were ninth in sacks allowed in 2025 as defenses took down the IU quarterback 21 times. Oregon is tied for seventh in the Big Ten by sacking the opponents’ quarterback 29 times. In the first match up the Ducks sacked Mendoza just once, but hurried him a few times including one that resulted in a pick six.